The most obvious answer to the question 'What do Solution Architects do?' is 'Solution Architecture', leading to the question 'What is Solution Architecture? ', the subject of another article .

But we're not going to go with the short answer to the question. Instead, we'll explore the basic responsibilities of the role and also take a peek into the intangible, but often looked-for, qualities of a Solution Architect.

By the conclusion, whether you are a business manager, project manager, technologist (manager / constructor), business analyst, solution architect or some other interested party, the responsibilities & benefits of this emerging professional role should be apparent and, I hope, will stimulate some discussion.