Collecting Project Requirements

A good solution architect will have the political skills required to work with clients in how they accomplish a requirement. Sometimes clients will expect that the system will do something that it’s not designed to do. Sometimes, it’s through negotiation with the client that the solution architect (SA) can get them to adjust their expectations and, possibly, change their business processes to best fit the system. This chapter will talk about how to get the client to work with the architect to create a viable solution that will get the project to a successful end.

As we’ve moved through this book, one of the things I’ve hopefully impressed on you is that the SA has a big role in the project’s successful outcome. Since we have discussed more technical aspects of the role of the SA, in this chapter, we’re going to focus more on the non-technical aspects of the role. This is where personality and political skills...