Logical
Breaking a problem into manageable pieces necessitate a logical approach. Another obvious positive trait to possess. However, stick with me on this. There are less obvious scenarios for which a logical approach will be your life preserve in stormy project seas.
You will come across many situations where conflicting interests can introduce progress paralysis. For example, project requirements necessitate a certain technology component selection. Organisational governance prevent this. As Solution Architect you’re stuck in the middle. As I often put it, the Solution Architect is the meat in the middle of a particularly mouldy sandwich! Project stakeholders apply pressure for one solution. Governance another. Solution Architects are stuck in the middle. What to do?
Apply pure, simple logic.
- There’s a problem to be solved. Define it. Don’t solutionize. Stick to the requirement. Get that definition into a Powerpoint. It’s the genesis of every part that follows. Your summary will likely be about five slides.
- Identify the makers. Be they business and/or technology. Familiarise yourself with the concerns and rationale contributing to the conflict. Who has a seat at the making table?
- You’ve summarised the problem in step one. Add the solution options. I like to add a recommendation also. Management/politics may not wish to do this. Check.
- Produce a meeting agenda which focuses on the relevant points. Bullet point one liners, no more than about a half dozen, meeting duration as short as possible. Thirty minutes is often all that’s needed. Core agenda item will be reviewing the analysis in your pack.
- Gather the makers and other stakeholders in a meeting to run through the agenda.
It’s not certain you’ll get a final resolution. However what you will highlight is where any blockers are, who is involved in unblocking them and the next steps. You will have played a crucial role in progressing things.
This is just an example where a logical, dispassionate approach moves things on. The key takeaway is applying a logical approach to problem solving extends to not just the technical aspects of the role. The core skill involved here is logic.