9. Architect Engagement
Enterprise
Architects
Enterprise
Business Information
Architects Architects Business Capability
Software Architect Infrastructure
Architects
Data Center
Software Software
Architect Architect
13. The Need to Know for Information Architects:
From Big Data to Big Information
Paul Preiss and Tom Thomas
14. Agenda
• Review: Architecture Fundamentals
• Introduction: Data, Information and Knowledge
• The Value of the Information Architect
• The Skills and Role
• Big Data to Big Information
• The future of the profession and how you can grow your career
16. What is Architecture?
Architecture is user experience
Architecture is negotiating and bargaining
Architecture is technology
Architecture is form
Architecture is communication
Architecture is artful
Architecture is agile
Architecture is the creation of a better world
Magnus Mårtensson – Microsoft March 2008
17. IASA’s Definition of an Architect is:
Developer lead with Business person with
business competence technical competence
Technology Strategist
for the business
Network and system
specialist that has IT person who bridges
business sense and the gap between
strong infrastructure business & technology
competence
18. Key Concerns of an Architect
Whole System Design and Integrity
Alignment with the business
Strategy
Environment
Customers
System Evolution
Architectures are long-lived
A blueprint for implementing strategy
Ability to evolve
20. Data
Data is a raw material
Data is the lowest level of abstraction to derive
information and knowledge.
Raw Data (i.e. unprocessed Data) is a collection
of numbers, characters, images or other outputs
from devices that collect information to convert
physical quantities into symbols.
21. Information
Information is data organized for a
purpose
Derived from the Latin verb informare as in "to
give form to the mind", "to
discipline", "instruct", "teach"
Information is an ordered sequence of symbols
that record or transmit a message
Information is the summarization of Data
22. Knowledge
Knowledge is a product of Information
Knowledge is created from information that has
been analyzed and assigned meaning
Knowledge is a set of beliefs created from
information
Knowledge is the interpretation of information and
the subsequent actions derived from that
interpretation
23. The Value of the
Information Architect
Going Beyond Just Design
24. The Definition
The dictionary definition of value:
“the worth of something in terms of the amount of other
things for which it can be exchanged or in terms of some
medium of exchange”
The dictionary definition of information:
“knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular
fact or circumstance”
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/value
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/information
25. Important to Understand
Information is at the core of all decisions and businesses:
Empowers facts not guesses or assumptions
Market research, logistics and advertising
Inventory quantity, location and turn time to restocking
Processes, procedures and intellectual property
Remove information from a company what is left?
26. The Benefits of Information Strategy
Thinking outside of the box for efficiency, growth and creativity
Enablement of embracing that change does and will happen
Leveraging existing assets into new paradigms
Maximize reuse of information and pre-existing investments
Who are some of the most successful companies in your domain or
in the world? Why?
29. The Challenge
and the opportunity!
As an IA you are in the middle creating bridges out to:
Management (C suite, directors, mid-level)
Operations, Sales – B2B, B2C
Web Designers and Developers
Software Engineers
Database Administrators
?????
30. Operations, Sales, B2B, B2C and
more...
“the other customers”
Ensure the information you provide is tailored to the audience
Ensure your deliverables are in a form they can use quickly
Keep your eyes open for reuse by others
Beware of and put an end to hoarders and ad hoc silos
Be on the watch for misuse, mis-storage and lack of security
Every customer is different – needs and expectations
If you are looking you can find a use for everything and anything...
32. The Roles and Skills Required
The many hats we wear...
UI/UX
Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
Data Security and Privacy
Metadata, Taxonomy and Knowledge Management
Yeah we probably wear that “other” hat too...
33. Big Data to
Big Information
Where we are, where we are going
and how we might get there
34. Big Data
Where it may come from
Visitor/User/Customer Information
Transactions
Log files
Raw data (of all types and forms) – structured and unstructured
Where else does YOUR data come from?
35. Bridging the Gap
How do we go from (big) data to (big) information
Context + Content + User
Understand the problem before we try to create the solution
Get stakeholder and executive buy in
Roll out in a way that makes sense for your organization
Keeping in mind: size, architectural maturity, previous projects
Are you maximizing the usefulness of your data?
36. Big Information
The tools we may utilize to get the job done
Master Data Management aka MDM
RDBMS to NOSQL
Date Warehouses with Data Marts
App silos to data hubs with app spokes
What do you think is coming next?
37. How to stay ahead of the curve
and continue to grow your career!
Certification and Training
IFC
IAC (Information Architecture and more)
CITA-P
IASA Mentorship Program
Contribute to your local and global community...
Only you can decide where you will go next!
Editor's Notes
Before we get started talking about the what, why, who and how of architecture we’d like to clarify some ongoing themes of our architecture practice. First architecture is about technology value at your organization. We are required to save and make money for you in much the same way as any other business unit including sales and marketing. We are not here to make the best developed technology, nor the most stable, nor necessarily deliver every business requirement. We are here to make sure everything (and yes we mean everything!) that gets built for you, by customers or by our providers meets or exceeds expected return on investment. Architecture is a profession not just a job. We are dedicated to adopting best practices from industry of course but our commitment is to making sure that you are working with trained, certified professionals and that those professionals are providing the best service to your company possible. Just like any great initiative we believe this is all about people not just process. Finally, despite our many successes over the past few years as a team, we are also aware of a great number of opportunities to improve architecture practice and support within the company. We are committed to ensuring that every area where architecture touches your role that you have the most support possible.