Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoyed the post. I agree with the architect being with the team. I’m a fan of Simon Brown’s work (http://www.simongbrown.com/) because he advocates hands-on architects who not only help structure software but work with the team to make sure it does what is needed. In my experience working with people that are more practical and hands-on creates better results.

Your second paragraph sums it up really well!

I believe that good decision came from a good balance of owning the operational knowledge and long term vision.

Unless an architect can predict everything upfront with little room of failures, most of Architects should be with the team, attend stand ups, take part of code reviews, take on critical user story/work items/task, do unit test, not break the build as much as the next guy. More importantly, he is responsible for sharing the vision and long term business goals with the team.

A good idea IS a good idea despite who had thought of it, at times, those might not come from the most senior person in the room. It is up to the culture of the team to empower people to own the problem together and be as caring as the next guy.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by cdeweese: On the blog: Lessons Learned About Being a Software Architect By Trying to Be One http://bit.ly/4Cqgr7...

Agreed on the exception on people not liking you. That is highly dependent on personality and how you approach situations. I did not do so good back when I started down this path. Getting better at it!

97 Things is a great book, I have been watching the Wiki and read up from time to time.

All good points. On ‘people not liking you’, in my experience this is the exception and not the rule and usually a position taken by people who are hell bent on proving themselves to be the smartest person in the room. I too have seen that position reversed in people by practicing some of the things you recommended.

Have you read the book “97 things every Software Architect should know”? I’m about a quarter of the way through and finding it a very interesting and entertaining read and already would recommend it.