Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success

Factors?
by Gerrit Muller Embedded Systems Institute
e-mail: gerrit.muller@embeddedsystems.nl
www.gaudisite.nl

Abstract
System architects are scarce. If we want to search or educate potential system
architects, then it is useful to know factors that determine the success of system
architects. In this presentation we look at 4 areas: nature, education, environment
and experience. We will make this areas more specific by quantification and illus-
tration.

Environment
variation
feedback
stimulating

Distribution
17th March 2006 Experience
patterns
Education
This article or presentation is written as part of the Gaudí project. The Gaudí project
philosophy is to improve by obtaining frequent feedback. Frequent feedback is pursued by an status: preliminary skills

open creation process. This document is published as intermediate or nearly mature version
to get feedback. Further distribution is allowed as long as the document remains complete
draft
and unchanged. version: 0 Nature
Decomposing Contributing Factors

Environment
variation
feedback
stimulating

Experience Education
patterns
skills

Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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2 Gerrit Muller DTAdecomposition
Structure of this Presentation

5. Environment

6. Conclusion

4. Experience 2. Education
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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3 Gerrit Muller DTAdecompositionContent
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

17th March 2006
4 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoArchitect
Observed Typical Growth of System Architects

business,
root generalist
application insight psycho-social
technical technical
skills
know-how know-how process insight

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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5 Gerrit Muller MATsystemArchitectGrowth
From Specialist to Generalist

breadth of
know-how

all-round specialist system architect

aspect
architect
specialist
know-how
depth of

root
know-how

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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6 Gerrit Muller MATfromSpecialistToSystemArchitect
Different Architecting Scopes

including portfolio

people scope
solution individuals architect
(human factors)
context product line
fitting including
stakeholders
architect
architect including
system
designers architect
technical (process)
sound architect
technology
only product scope
context function product product portfolio
technology line

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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7 Gerrit Muller MSarchitectingScope
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

4. Experience
2. Education
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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8 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoEducation
Proposed Curriculum for System Architects

root generalist business, application insight

psycho-social
technical technical
skills
know-how know-how process insight

apply theory become experience the see every human

in practice all-round non-technical aspects as an individual

architecture school

mathematics ESA advanced

physics SARCH
SW ESA System SARCH
chemistry Architectural
mechanical ESA s ystem design
engineering reasoning ESA
silicon methods stakeholders
computer legend
science
electronical ESA Execution Thomas Gilb - EVO, conventional
curriculums
engineering mechatronics architecture requirements eng
available
reliability
engineering Bredemeyer -
QFD and more Role of the architect external
Bredemeyer marketing, process missing
SW architecture and many more

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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9 Gerrit Muller FARcurriculumSA
Overview of CAFCR framework

method outline method visualization

framework Customer Application Functional Conceptual Realization
objectives

+ key drivers + stakeholders + use case + construction + budget

submethods
+ value chain and concerns + commercial, logistics decomposition + benchmarking
+ business models + context diagram decompositions + functional + performance
+ supplier map + entity relationship + mapping technical decomposition analysis
models functions + information model + safety analysis
+ dynamic models and several more and many more and many more

integration safety

via qualities performance

explore market
vision
a priori solution know-how

use detailed
specific details story
analyse
design
case analyse
design
design

image render
diagnostic IQ spec S
quality engine P'
quality U M
U" typical CPU

reasoning
throughput processing
case budget
U' purchase P library
pixel
CoO T BoM
price Moore's depth
memory
law
memory budget limit
M'
B
profit margin common
standard workstation console

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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10 Gerrit Muller AMOoverview
Connecting System Design to Detailed Design

10 0

number of
10 1
details
system
10 2 system
requirements
10 3
10 4 design multi-
10 5 decisions disciplinary

10 6 parts
7 connections mono-
10 lines of code disciplinary
10 8 and growing every year....

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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11 Gerrit Muller RATWpyramid
Organizational Problem: Disconnect

What does Customer need

How can the product be realized

in Product and Why?

What are the critical decisions

Customer Application Functional Conceptual Realisation
objectives

gap
system
requirements

design
decisions

parts
connections
lines of code
and growing every year....

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

17th March 2006
12 Gerrit Muller RATWdisconnect
Architect: Connecting Problem and Technical Solution

What does Customer need How can the product be realized

in Product and Why? What are the critical decisions

Customer Application Functional Conceptual Realisation

objectives

10 0

number of
10 1

details
10 2 system
10 3 requirements

10 4 design
10 5 decisions

10 6 parts
connections
10 7 lines of code
10 8 and growing every year....

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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13 Gerrit Muller RATWbreadthAndDepth
Major Bottleneck: Mental Dynamic Range

10 0

number of
10 1

details

architect
system
10 2
10 3
stretch

engineer
senior
10 4

stretch
10 5
engineer

10 6 stretch

10 7
100 10 1

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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14 Gerrit Muller RATWmentalDynamicRange
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience
1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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15 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoNature
Profile of an ”Ideal” System Architect
9

0
n k n g n e t t l c l y ill t t t s e s t e e t g n l n
t io wor tio kin pe rtis alis ralis ptua ati itica nhw tivit l sk igh igh en es dul res cos king alu tur igh hin tio isa tio
a a s o e i r k a s s m n e l v a s c c r a a
ic m nt ta e, p ec ne ce gm c n cre nua s in s in ove lete ch rog itia a
m er s fe al in coa sele pp oti
v
un tea me ulti- xibl ex sp ge on pra tive tio
c a s i c r p s r p in n
o to m l e i a m
m cu m fle h by c rp m ce lit imp om to si sa er
c
co
m
do t s t ru bso p ro po c o ni e ci cus m
au n a m d m
co co

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

17th March 2006
16 Gerrit Muller FPsystemArchitect
For Comparison: Profile of a Project Leader
9

0
n k n g n e t t l c l y ill t t t s e s t e e t g n l n
t io wor tio kin pe rtis alis ralis ptua ati itica nhw tivit l sk igh igh en es dul res cos king alu tur igh hin tio isa tio
a a s o e i r k s s m n e l v a s c c a a
ic m nt ta e, p ec ne ce gm c a
n cre nua s in s in ove lete ch og ia a r fe l in oa ele ppr otiv
un tea me ulti- xibl ex sp ge on pra tive tio a s i c r p s r pr init n m me es ia c s a m
m u m e b y c c r p m c e l it mp m o io sto a l rc
m o c f l r u o o o i o i t i s s e
o d t h t s r p c o n c c u m
c
au ns ab p
m de m
co co

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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17 Gerrit Muller FPoperationalLeader
Porject Leader vs System Architect
communication
teamwork
documentation
project leader interpersonal skills multi-tasking
flexible, open
system architect 9,0
auth by expertise
8,0
7,0

human resource man 6,0

know-how specialist
generalist
5,0
coaching
4,0
selection
appraisal 3,0

motivation 2,0
1,0
0,0

commercial reasoning power

customer value conceptual
sales feature pragmatic
commercial insight constructive critical
absorption knhw
creativity
project man process
completeness process insight
schedule politics insight
monitor progress improvement
initial cost
decision making

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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18 Gerrit Muller DTAspiderDiagram
Most Discriminating Characteristics

• Generalist

• Multi-tasking

• Authority by expertise

• Constructive critical

• Balance between conceptual and pragmatic

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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19 Gerrit Muller DTAdiscriminatingCharacteristics
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience 1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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20 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoExperience
Example: Trapezoid Pattern

grey level gradient field wafer stage

mapping generation movement
TR
Look up table TE

vy
invert
contrast / brightness
RF

Gz
brightness
t

expose

expose
contrast
Gx
output

step
vx
Gy
input

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

17th March 2006
21 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidPatterns
From SW input to physical Effect

(x 3, y 3) (x 4, y 4)

(x 1, y 1) (x 2, y 2)

breakpoints discrete analog mechanical

conversion
computation

samples signal optical

actuation
(x 1, y 1) (1, v 1 )
or
.. (2, v 2 )
V(t) physical
(x n, y n) . effect
. DAC
. [m/s]
(t, v t) [mT/m]

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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22 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidChain
Discretization effects

input is discrete
output is discrete
potential problems:
staircase effects
not all values can be reached
impact on frequency domain
broken invariants (surface)
potential benefits:
optimized algoritms (fixed point)

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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23 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidDiscretization
Example of Discretization Problem

false
contour
f(x)

10 bits pixel value

8 bits pixel value
x
Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0
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24 Gerrit Muller MITORfalseContouring
Example of Generic Smoothing Consideration

discontinuity in
first derivative
smooth

smooth curves prevent artefacts

(vibration, image, clipping)

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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25 Gerrit Muller DTAtrapezoidContinuity
Architects Collect a Rich Set of Patterns

time

architects move from: legend

product to product
environment
environment to environment
system
architects experience:
design pattern
thousands of patterns
design patterns in systems process pattern
process patterns in environments

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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26 Gerrit Muller DTAexperience
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience 1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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27 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoEnvironment
Simplified Decomposition of the Business

customer

Information
Roadmap
Customer

Business

Support
Product
Drivers

Order

$$
Product Requirements
and feedback
Policy and presales sales logistics production service
material $$
Planning Process Customer Oriented Process

Product related
Documentation
and Feedback
Requirements
Budget, plan

processes
Technical
roadmap
Product

Product
and People roadmaps
Technology, Process

Technology
Budgets

Process
People
Product Creation Process

Technology
Process
People

People and Technology Management Process

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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28 Gerrit Muller PDBprocessDecomposition
Line Organization Stovepipe

CEO
finance & human resource
administration management

goods flow research & commercial

engineering

mechanical engineering

electrical engineering

software engineering

customer support
manufacturing

purchasing

marketing
logistics

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors?

29 Gerrit Muller
version: 0
sales
17th March 2006
DTAlineOrganization
Business Organization Stovepipe

project 1
business unit 1
product/market oriented
project 2

project 3
business unit 2
product/market oriented
project 4

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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30 Gerrit Muller DTAbusinessOrganization
Different Concerns
introvert competence, skill oriented

or
synergy, re-use driven

s?
ult e long term
y c pip
ure
tar ve
en sto
lem ting
mp na
co mi

project 1
do

project 2

mechanical engineering
extrovert

electrical engineering
software engineering

customer support
manufacturing

customer oriented purchasing

marketing
logistics

sales
result driven
short term

project 3
project 4

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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31 Gerrit Muller DTAmatrixOrganization
Positioning System Architecting

customer

Information
Roadmap
Customer

Business

Support
Product
Drivers

Order

$$
ck
Product Requirements
che
and feedback
lity
Policy and presales sales logistics production service

Rea
material $$
Planning Process Customer Oriented Process

Sys

Product related
Documentation
and Feedback
Requirements

cti er
te
Budget, plan

mA

processes
era ld
Technical
roadmap

on
Product

Product
int keho
rchi
tect

a
St
ure
and People roadmaps
Technology, Process

Pro
ces

Technology
Budgets

Process
s

People
Product Creation Process
sion
, Vi

Technology
text

Process
People
Con

People and Technology Management Process

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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32 Gerrit Muller SAPprocessSimplified
What Can We Do to Improve the Environment?

systems engineering as discipline

job rotation
stimulate architect exposure
stretch all engineers
cultivate customer & market oriented culture
share and invest in future exploration and vision

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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33 Gerrit Muller DTAenvironmentFactors
 5. Environment

6. Conclusion

2. Education
4. Experience 1. Architect

3. Nature

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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34 Gerrit Muller DTAlogoConclusion
Conclusion

Environment :
stimulate job rotation
expose engineers Customer
objectives
Application Functional Conceptual Realisation

recognize multi-disciplinary

Experience : Education :
>1000 design patterns How to educate, stimulate
and process patterns depth and breadth?

Nature :
Foster engineers with
architect potential

Decomposing the Architect; What are Critical Success Factors? version: 0

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35 Gerrit Muller DTAconclusion