Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success

Factors?
by Gerrit Muller HSN-NISE
e-mail: gaudisite@gmail.com
www.gaudisite.nl

Abstract

System architects are scarce. If we want to search or educate potential system

architects, then it is useful to know factors that determine the success of system
architects. In this presentation we look at 4 areas: nature, education, environment
and experience. We will make these areas more specific by quantification and
illustration.

Environment
variation
feedback
stimulating

Distribution
Experience Education
patterns
This article or presentation is written as part of the Gaudí project. The Gaudí project
philosophy is to improve by obtaining frequent feedback. Frequent feedback is pursued by an October 3, 2016 skills

open creation process. This document is published as intermediate or nearly mature version
to get feedback. Further distribution is allowed as long as the document remains complete
status: draft
and unchanged. version: 1.3 Nature
Decomposing Contributing Factors

Environment
variation
feedback
stimulating

Experience Education
patterns
skills

Nature
Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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2 Gerrit Muller DTAdecomposition
Structure of this Presentation

5. Environment

6. Conclusion

4. Experience 2. Education
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
3 Gerrit Muller DTAdecompositionContent
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
4 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoArchitect
Observed Typical Growth of System Architects

business,
root generalist
application insight psychosocial
technical technical
skills
knowledge knowledge process insight

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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5 Gerrit Muller MATsystemArchitectGrowth
From Specialist to Generalist

breadth of
knowledge

systems architect
all-round specialist aspect
architect
specialist
knowledge
depth of

root
knowledge

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
6 Gerrit Muller MATfromSpecialistToSystemArchitect
Different Architecting Scopes

people scope
including portfolio
solution individuals architect
(human factors)
context product line
fitting including
stakeholders
architect
architect including
system
designers architect
technical (process)
sound architect
technology
only product scope
context function product product portfolio
technology line

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
7 Gerrit Muller MSarchitectingScope
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

4. Experience
2. Education
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
8 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoEducation
Proposed Curriculum for System Architects

root generalist business, application insight

psycho-social
technical technical
skills
know-how know-how process insight

apply theory become experience the see every human

in practice all-round non-technical aspects as an individual

architecture school

mathematics ESA advanced

physics SARCH
SW ESA System SARCH
chemistry Architectural
mechanical ESA s ystem design
engineering reasoning ESA
silicon methods stakeholders
computer legend
science
electronical ESA Execution Thomas Gilb - EVO, conventional
curriculums
engineering mechatronics architecture requirements eng
available
reliability
engineering Bredemeyer -
QFD and more Role of the architect external
Bredemeyer marketing, process missing
SW architecture and many more

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
9 Gerrit Muller FARcurriculumSA
Overview of CAFCR framework
method outline method visualization
framework Customer Application Functional Conceptual Realization
objectives

+ key drivers + stakeholders + use case + construction + budget

submethods
+ value chain and concerns + commercial, logistics decomposition + benchmarking
+ business models + context diagram decompositions + functional + performance
+ supplier map + entity relationship + mapping technical decomposition analysis
models functions + information model + safety analysis
+ dynamic models and several more and many more and many more

integration safety

via qualities performance

market a priori solution know-how

explore vision
use detailed
story
specific details analyse
design
case analyse
design
design

image render
diagnostic IQ spec S
quality engine P'
quality U M
U" typical CPU
throughput processing
case budget

reasoning U' CoO T

purchase
price

B
BoM Moore's
law
memory budget M'
P
memory
limit
library
pixel
depth

profit margin common

standard workstation console

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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10 Gerrit Muller AMOoverview
Connecting System Design to Detailed Design

0
10

number of
1
10

details
2 system
10 system
3 requirements
10
4
10 design multi-
5 decisions disciplinary
10
6
10 parts
7 connections mono-
10 lines of code disciplinary
8
10 and growing every year....

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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11 Gerrit Muller RATWpyramid
Organizational Problem: Disconnect

How can the product be realized

What does Customer need

What are the critical decisions

in Product and Why?
Customer Application Functional Conceptual Realisation
objectives

gap
system
requirements

design
decisions

parts
connections
lines of code
and growing every year....

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
12 Gerrit Muller RATWdisconnect
Architect: Connecting Problem and Technical Solution
What does Customer need How can the product be realized
in Product and Why? What are the critical decisions

Customer Application Functional Conceptual Realisation

objectives

100

number of
101

details
102 system
103 requirements

104 design
105 decisions

106 parts
107 connections
lines of code
108 and growing every year....

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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13 Gerrit Muller RATWbreadthAndDepth
Major Bottleneck: Mental Dynamic Range

0
10

number of
1
10

details

architect
system
2
10

senior engineer
stretch
3
10
4
10

stretch
5
10
engineer

6
stretch
10
7
10
100 10 1

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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14 Gerrit Muller RATWmentalDynamicRange
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
15 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoNature
16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9

8
communication
teamwork
documentation

Gerrit Muller
multitasking
flexible, open
authority by expertise
specialist
generalist
conceptual
pragmatic
constructive critical
fast absorption of knowledge
creativity
manual skills

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors?

process insight
political insight
improvement
completeness
Profile of an ”Ideal” System Architect

schedule
monitor progress
initial cost

FPsystemArchitect
October 3, 2016
version: 1.3 decision making
customer value
sales features
commercial insight
coaching
selection
appraisal
motivation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9

8
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9

8
communication
teamwork
documentation
multitasking

Gerrit Muller
flexible, open
authority by expertise
specialist
generalist
conceptual
pragmatic
constructive critical
fast absorption of knowledge
creativity
manual skills
process insight

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors?

political insight
improvement
completeness
schedule
monitor progress
initial cost

FPoperationalLeader
October 3, 2016
version: 1.3 decision making
For Comparison: Profile of a Project Leader

customer value
sales features
commercial insight
coaching
selection
appraisal
motivation
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9

8
Project Leader vs System Architect
communication
teamwork
project leader documentation
system architect multi-tasking
flexible, open
interpersonal skills auth by expertise
9,0
8,0
specialist
7,0
generalist
human resource man 6,0
know-how
5,0
coaching 4,0
selection 3,0
appraisal 2,0
motivation 1,0
0,0

commercial reasoning power

customer value conceptual
sales feature pragmatic
commercial insight constructive critical
absorption knhw
creativity
project man process
completeness process insight
schedule politics insight
monitor progress improvement
initial cost
decision making

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
18 Gerrit Muller DTAspiderDiagram
Most Discriminating Characteristics

• Generalist

• Multi-tasking

• Authority by expertise

• Constructive critical

• Balance between conceptual and pragmatic

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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19 Gerrit Muller DTAdiscriminatingCharacteristics
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience 1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
20 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoExperience
Example: Trapezoid Pattern

grey level gradient field wafer stage

mapping generation movement
TR
Look up table TE

vy
invert
contrast / brightness
RF

Gz
brightness
t

expose

expose
contrast
Gx
output

step
vx
Gy
input

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
21 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidPatterns
From SW input to physical Effect

(x 3, y 3) (x 4, y 4)

(x 1, y 1) (x 2, y 2)

breakpoints discrete analog mechanical

conversion
computation

samples signal optical

actuation
(x 1, y 1) (1, v 1 )
or
.. (2, v 2 )
V(t) physical
(x n, y n) . effect
. DAC
. [m/s]
(t, v t) [mT/m]

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
22 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidChain
Discretization effects

input is discrete
output is discrete
potential problems:
staircase effects
not all values can be reached
impact on frequency domain
broken invariants (surface)
potential benefits:
optimized algoritms (fixed point)

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
23 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidDiscretization
Example of Discretization Problem

false
contour
f(x)

10 bits pixel value

8 bits pixel value
x

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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24 Gerrit Muller MITORfalseContouring
Example of Generic Smoothing Consideration

discontinuity in
first derivative
smooth

smooth curves prevent artefacts

(vibration, image, clipping)
Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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25 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidContinuity
Architects Collect a Rich Set of Patterns

time
architects move from: legend
product to product
environment to environment environment

system
architects experience:
thousands of patterns design pattern
design patterns in systems process pattern
process patterns in environments human pattern
human patterns in environments
Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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26 Gerrit Muller DTAexperience
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience 1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
27 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoEnvironment
Simplified Decomposition of the Business

customer

Information
Customer
Roadmap

Business

Support
Product
Drivers

Order

$$
Product Needs
and feedback
Policy and presales sales logistics production service
material $$
Planning Process Customer-Oriented Process

Technical Product

Product-related
Documentation
Budget, plan

Needs and

processes
Feedback
roadmap
Product
and People roadmaps
Technology, Process,

Technology
Budgets

Process
People
Product Creation Process

Technology
Needs and
Feedback

Process
People

People, Process, and Technology Management Process

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
28 Gerrit Muller PDBprocessDecomposition
Line Organization Stovepipe

CEO
finance & human resource
administration management

goods flow research & commercial

engineering

mechanical engineering

electrical engineering

software engineering

customer support
manufacturing

purchasing

marketing
logistics

sales
Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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29 Gerrit Muller DTAlineOrganization
Business Organization Stovepipe

project 1
business unit 1
product/market oriented
project 2

project 3
business unit 2
product/market oriented
project 4

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
30 Gerrit Muller DTAbusinessOrganization
Different Concerns
introvert competence, skill oriented

or
synergy, re-use driven

s?
ult e
long term
y c pip
ure
tar ve
en sto
lem ting
mp na
co omi

project 1
d

project 2

mechanical engineering
extrovert

electrical engineering
software engineering

customer support
manufacturing

customer oriented
purchasing

marketing
logistics

sales
result driven
short term

project 3
project 4

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
31 Gerrit Muller DTAmatrixOrganization
Positioning System Architecting

customer

Information
Customer
Roadmap

Business

Support
Product
Drivers

Order

$$
ck
che
Product Needs
and feedback
lity
Policy and presales sales logistics production service
material $$

Rea
Planning Process Customer-Oriented Process

int keProduct
cti er
Sys

Documentation

Product related
Budget, plan

era hold
te

on
Needs and

processes
Feedback
roadmap

ms
Product

Arc

Technical
hi

Sta
and People roadmaps

tect
Technology, Process

i ng P

Technology
ro c e
Budgets

Process
People
ss
n

Product Creation Process

isio
t, V

Technology
tex

Process
People
Co n

People, Process, and Technology Management Process

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
32 Gerrit Muller SAPprocessSimplified
What Can We Do to Improve the Environment?

systems engineering as discipline

job rotation
stimulate architect exposure
stretch all engineers
cultivate customer & market oriented culture
share and invest in future exploration and vision

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
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33 Gerrit Muller DTAenvironmentFactors
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience 1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
34 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoConclusion
Conclusion

Environment :
stimulate job rotation
expose engineers Customer
objectives
Application Functional Conceptual Realisation

recognize multi-disciplinary

Experience : Education :
>1000 design patterns How to educate, stimulate
and process patterns depth and breadth?

Nature :
Foster engineers with
architect potential

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 1.3
October 3, 2016
35 Gerrit Muller DTAconclusion