The software architect gig can look pretty different depending on where you are working. But don't worry - there is still a bunch of stuff that pops up everywhere, or that you can bring in.
Thank you for sharing this perspective—it really resonates with me! I particularly connected with your point about software architects being facilitators rather than dictators. Your metaphor of being 'the glue' that connects people is spot on, and I strive to embody a similar philosophy in my work.
Interestingly, in my blog post Agile Software Architect Role - Part 1 (https://blog.seart.dev/p/agile-software-architect-role), I discuss how architects in agile environments need to operate at different levels of abstraction to balance technical solutions with business goals. It’s fascinating to see how our ideas align, especially regarding the collaborative nature of the role.
Have you faced resistance when introducing these modern, collaborative practices in teams with more traditional mindsets? I’d love to hear how you’ve handled such situations
Sure, I faced it several times. As always it all depends on context. Sometimes people don't know that there are better engineering practices and their daily life could be improved - I am there to help, to show the way, and lead by example. There is one key point - they have to be willing to change. Otherwise, if there is a strong hesitance to change the habits, I prefer not to push - you can still focus on people who want to change. When there is a team of 6 people, there is a high possibility that part of them would like to change, so I focus on them instead on the ones who don't want to change. Then, after some time the rest will follow or just drop from the team - it works pretty well but can take a lot of time.
Very agile ideas MJ. I found myself noticing similar things on my day to day job. The fun thing is that I feel like a junior in some aspects of the job (for my management skills) and that continue improving technically feels sometimes like a dog chasing its tail. 😅
It is completely fine to feel like junior in some aspects!
When I started, I thought that I must know absolutely everything. Then, realized that it is impossible. To this day, there are dozens of areas that I am not an expert :)
Thank you for sharing this perspective—it really resonates with me! I particularly connected with your point about software architects being facilitators rather than dictators. Your metaphor of being 'the glue' that connects people is spot on, and I strive to embody a similar philosophy in my work.
Interestingly, in my blog post Agile Software Architect Role - Part 1 (https://blog.seart.dev/p/agile-software-architect-role), I discuss how architects in agile environments need to operate at different levels of abstraction to balance technical solutions with business goals. It’s fascinating to see how our ideas align, especially regarding the collaborative nature of the role.
Have you faced resistance when introducing these modern, collaborative practices in teams with more traditional mindsets? I’d love to hear how you’ve handled such situations
Thanks for your comment!
Sure, I faced it several times. As always it all depends on context. Sometimes people don't know that there are better engineering practices and their daily life could be improved - I am there to help, to show the way, and lead by example. There is one key point - they have to be willing to change. Otherwise, if there is a strong hesitance to change the habits, I prefer not to push - you can still focus on people who want to change. When there is a team of 6 people, there is a high possibility that part of them would like to change, so I focus on them instead on the ones who don't want to change. Then, after some time the rest will follow or just drop from the team - it works pretty well but can take a lot of time.
Very agile ideas MJ. I found myself noticing similar things on my day to day job. The fun thing is that I feel like a junior in some aspects of the job (for my management skills) and that continue improving technically feels sometimes like a dog chasing its tail. 😅
It is completely fine to feel like junior in some aspects!
When I started, I thought that I must know absolutely everything. Then, realized that it is impossible. To this day, there are dozens of areas that I am not an expert :)