The digital landscape is fast evolving. And with this evolution, organizations face the challenge of aligning their technological capabilities with their business objectives. Harry Robinson, senior partner in McKinsey’s Southern California office, thinks that 70% of digital transformation projects fail. The reasons are plenty, but if it has to be condensed into a single sentence, it would be due to the lack of alignment between business and technology.
Is there a better way to bridge this gap?
Certainly! This is where solution architects step in, playing a pivotal role in bridging the often wide gap between business and technology. These experts act as translators, strategists, and mediators to ensure that IT solutions are tailored to meet specific business needs while remaining technologically sound and feasible.
We will talk more about it, but first the basics.
Understanding the Gap
The disconnect between business and technology teams, the so-called ‘digital friction,’ is often characterized by communication challenges. Per a report by Dynatrace, 49% of CIOs believe that a situation when business and IT teams work in separate “silos” is the biggest blocker for digital transformation. Business teams typically focus on outcomes, market dynamics, and customer needs, often expressing their requirements in non-technical terms. On the other hand, technology teams think in terms of systems, architectures, and technical specifications. This difference in perspective and language can lead to misunderstandings and misaligned expectations.
Source: Dynatrace
The consequences of failing to bridge this gap can be severe, especially for larger projects. According to a study by the Project Management Institute, 14% of IT projects fail outright, and 31% don’t meet their goals, often due to poor alignment between business needs and technological solutions. This misalignment can result in wasted resources, missed deadlines, and solutions that don’t address the core business problems they were meant to solve. In some cases, it can even lead to complete project failures, costing organizations millions of dollars and valuable time.
The following graphics accurately capture the reasons behind the success and failure ratios of projects.
Source: Project Management Institute
The Role of Solution Architects
Solution architects are the linchpins in the complex machinery of modern organizations. Occupying a unique position at the intersection of business and technology, their primary responsibility is to design, describe, and manage the solution engineering in relation to specific business problems. Be it cloud migration or some other sort of digital transformation, they are the people taking the project forward.
This could involve a wide range of tasks, including:
- Analyzing business requirements and translating them into architecture and design requirements
- Developing and maintaining IT systems architecture
- Ensuring that the proposed solutions align with business goals and IT strategies
- Collaborating with project management and development teams to ensure proper implementation
- Evaluating and selecting appropriate technologies and vendors
What sets solution architects apart is their ability to straddle both the business and technology worlds. They must understand the intricacies of complex IT systems while also grasping the nuances of business strategies and objectives. Given their standing, they act as a bridge, ensuring that technology solutions are not only technically sound but also aligned with business needs.
Key Skills of Solution Architects that Help Them Bridge the Gap
To effectively bridge the gap between business and technology, solution architects must possess a diverse skill set that spans both technical and business domains.
Technical Skills
- Deep understanding of various IT architectures (e.g., microservices, serverless, monolithic)
- Proficiency in multiple programming languages and development methodologies
- Knowledge of cloud computing platforms and technologies
- Understanding of data management and analytics
- Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and practices
Beyond technical skills, they must also think like ‘business people.’
Business Skills
- Project management and strategic planning
- Financial acumen to understand budgets and ROI
- Business process modeling and analysis
- Vendor management at different stages of the project and the subsequent negotiation
- Change management and organizational dynamics
In addition, solution architects must have excellent interpersonal skills. And it matters—given his role as a bridge, he must know how to translate for both technical and business teams.
Soft Skills
- Excellent communication skills to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Collaboration and team leadership abilities
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Adaptability and continuous learning mindset
- Conflict resolution and stakeholder management
How Solution Architects Bridge the Gap
Solution Architects employ various strategies to effectively bridge the gap between business and technology, some of which we talked about above.
Translating Business Requirements into Technical Solutions
Solution architects act as interpreters, taking business requirements expressed in non-technical terms and translating them into detailed technical specifications. They create architectural blueprints that outline how various systems and components will work together to meet business objectives. For instance, if a retail company expresses a need to “improve customer experience,” a solution architect might translate this into a technical solution involving a new CRM system integrated with AI-powered chatbots and a revamped mobile app.
Collaborating with Stakeholders to Ensure Alignment
Solution architects work closely with various stakeholders, including business leaders, project managers, developers, and end-users. Taking the example above, solution architects will facilitate workshops and discussions to ensure that all parties have a shared understanding of the project goals (improved customer service) and technical approach (CRM, UI, Omnichannel inbox, etc).
Their cross-departmental collaboration helps to identify potential issues early and ensures that the final solution meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Making Technical Information Accessible to Business Stakeholders
One of the key ways solution architects bridge the gap is by making complex technical information understandable to business stakeholders. They use visual aids like architecture diagrams, process flows, and prototypes to illustrate technical concepts. They also prepare executive summaries and presentations that highlight the business value of technical decisions.
Ensuring Scalability and Future-Proofing
Solution architects think beyond immediate needs and design solutions that can scale with the business and adapt to future technological advancements. They consider factors like potential business growth, emerging technologies, and changing market conditions when designing solutions.
Managing Trade-offs and Risks
Often, there are trade-offs between business desires and technical feasibility. Solution architects help navigate these challenges by clearly communicating the implications of different options, managing expectations, and finding compromises that balance business needs with technical constraints. In addition, they also inform the business stakeholders about the cost of their choices. Usually, for business stakeholders, it’s often a simple task—but for technical teams, it may entail integrating tools through APIs, writing codes, and relying on third-party tools, which may be costlier than what the other party expected.
Lastly, they also identify and mitigate potential risks to make sure that the chosen solutions are not only innovative but also reliable and secure.
Looking for Solutions Architects? We’re Here to Help!
The right solutions architect don’t come by easily—they need to be vetted by experts and must have a thorough understanding of different technological frameworks and cloud service providers. Above all, they must speak the language of both tech and business teams.
That’s the kind of solution architects we find for you. Thanks to our rigorous assessment process, deep roots in Latin America, and our presence across both continents, we connect you with tech talent who can take up an integral role in your digital transformation.
Get in touch with us and see what we can bring to the table!