The Type of Person who is a Good Fit for this Profession^[i]

The work of the Business Architect requires not only a significant level of functional expertise and industry knowledge but also very specific personality traits and interpersonal skills that enable them to fit in and achieve success. 

The type of person who excels as a Business Architect is a mechanically-minded person who can “read” very complex systems - immediately and intuitively understand how they work, and figure out how to improve their design.  They must be comfortable in constantly changing environments, implementing changes without interrupting the flow of business.

They possess the ability to look at problems from the proverbial “40,000 feet” and drill progressively down to the granular details.  This is crucial, as it is a view that is unique and often unseen, yet it reveals potential problems and opportunities that are not obvious from a more narrow view. 

They are able to discern the cross-organizational impacts of actions (or inaction) on other parts of the organization and its supply chain in the present and the future, and develop solution options that mitigate negative impacts while delivering the benefits.  

They must be able to visualize the desired end-state, work backward to deconstruct the solution into its component parts and then prepare a set of implementation documents that implementation teams can follow to achieve the desired end state. They have an inquisitive nature and the tenacity to trace symptoms to problems to the root causes and contributing factors of business problems.

A good Business Architect is an empiricist possessing the ability to sift through large volumes of data, identify critical variables and frame solutions in terms of business benefits supported by relevant financial analysis and accurate cost/benefit estimates. 

The Business Architect has an entrepreneurial nature, staying on top of current tools and trends, willing to challenge the status quo and press for solutions that enable the organization to quickly gain market share and increase profit margins. They must be well-versed in directing work of teams, optimizing resources and managing projects.

The Business Architect is a people person who is able to quickly and effortlessly build friendships and strategic relationships with a great variety of people. They are empathetic listeners who pick up on nuances in language and culture.  

Often playing the “middleman,” the Business Architect possesses excellent communication, facilitation and summarization skills, being able to translate concepts into terms understandable by everyone. They display great political acumen and emotional intelligence, remain cool in a crisis and manage negotiations toward practical solutions.