The Enterprise Architecture Gap

Over the last couple of years, I have noticed a change in the architecture landscape in NZ, which I see as being somewhat concerning in the long term. The traditional career progression from Solution Architect (SA) to Enterprise Architect (EA) is facing a challenge. As Solution Architect’s increasingly choose high paying contract roles, they forego the opportunity to learn and grow into an Enterprise Architect. This shift in career choices has created a void, which in time will lead to a shortage of Enterprise Architects.

You can think of the architecture career landscape as a funnel. At the top, we have the hands-on technical professionals, while the bottom represents the Heads of Architecture (HoA). For a healthy career pipeline, you need a steady influx from the top to support the bottom. The traditional pathway to becoming an EA involves honing one's craft as a SA over an extended period. Companies invest time and resources in developing their SA’s, gradually empowering them to make strategic decisions and take on more significant responsibilities.

Granted, not every architect aspires to become an EA or HoA. In fact, many architects find the idea of transitioning into people management roles unappealing. The world most certainly needs architect’s that want to remain at the solution level as they deliver the outcomes - and to those people - I think contracting is a great option. Why wouldn’t you increase your earning potential and do what you love?

However, there seems to be a leakage in the architecture funnel, which is the mass exodus of SA’s who would be interested in moving to an EA role but have decided not to. Consequently, the pipeline is compromised, with experienced SA’s opting to remain at the solution level and instead go contracting rather than transitioning to Enterprise Architecture.

One of the primary reasons for this leakage is the significant disparity in pay between what you can earn as a contract SA and a permanent EA. The rates for SA’s in New Zealand have skyrocketed ($140ph - $190ph), making it financially challenging for those who are contracting but aspire to move into Enterprise Architecture. The prospect of a substantial pay cut, ranging from $60K to $100K, stops even the most ambitious architect’s from pursuing career growth.

This has resulted in the pipeline below the SA level beginning to dry up. Fewer architect’s in permanent roles are sticking around long enough to move into the realm of Enterprise Architecture.

I don’t necessarily see any immediate action that can be taken to correct this, and I imagine it might be a few years before we see the impact of this on the market. There is the evolving trend across some organisations, who have identified this gap to create principal architecture roles, which is a conduit SA and EA role. This helps those people who don’t want to get too far from delivery, but it doesn’t help those who have moved into contracting. The pay disparity will continue to be there unless there are some major increases in the salaries or a price correction in contract rates.

I’d be interested to hear from others to see if you have seen this pattern emerging.