12 Essential Skills for Software Architects

01/25/2012 · No Responses

Master the Crucial Non-Technical Skills Every Software Architect Needs!

Thousands of software professionals have the necessary technical qualifications to become architects, but far fewer have the crucial non-technical skills needed to get hired and succeed in this role. In today’s agile environments, these “soft” skills have grown even more crucial to success as an architect. For many developers, however, these skills don’t come naturally–and they’re rarely addressed in formal training. Now, long-time software architect Dave Hendricksen helps you fill this gap, supercharge your organizational impact, and quickly move to the next level in your career.

In 12 Essential Skills for Software Architects, Hendricksen begins by pinpointing the specific relationship, personal, and business skills that successful architects rely upon. Next, he presents proven methods for systematically developing and sharpening every one of these skills, from negotiation and leadership to pragmatism and vision.

From start to finish, this book’s practical insights can help you get the architect position you want–and thrive once you have it!

The soft skills you need…
…and a coherent framework and practical methodology for mastering them!

Relationship skills
Leadership, politics, gracious behavior, communication, negotiation

Personal skills
Context switching, transparency, passion

Business skills
Pragmatism, vision, business knowledge, innovation

Table of Contents
Part I: Relationship Skills
Chapter 1. Gracious Behavior
Chapter 2. Communication
Chapter 3. Negotiation
Chapter 4. Leadership
Chapter 5. Politics

Part II: Personal Skills
Chapter 6. Transparency
Chapter 7. Passion
Chapter 8. Context Switching

Part III: Business Skills
Chapter 9. Business Knowledge
Chapter 10. Innovation
Chapter 11. Pragmatism
Chapter 12. Vision