Paying Respect to The Data Architect

Architect Acceptance

As a member of a DBA group and as someone who has been given the responsibility for developing the data administration function, I was extremely pleased to see Rajan Chandras' article ("Get the Complete Picture, January 30, 2001)" describing the role of the data architect. Although the article limited itself to Web projects, I hope that it is clear that a data architect can provide the same role for any type of application project. More important, if data architects have been involved in the development of fundamental applications in the past, then their work on Web projects should be that much easier and faster.

Harold Donaldson
Database Administrator
Tenn. Dept. of Finance & Administration
Nashville

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Rajan Chandras responds:

I agree with you that the role of the data architect extends beyond Internet projects. It is also my opinion that the role has traditionally been inadequately defined and poorly understood, which creates risk for projects that need - but lack - a data architect. Internet projects, typically in a much greater hurry to "get there" compared to traditionally funded and motivated projects, face a higher level of this risk - hence the focus of my article. You are also correct that a data architect who has previously been involved with the development of a software application will be an asset to the subsequent Web-enabling of that application. This benefit is because the data architect has knowledge of the data and the application behavior, which can help enhance understanding, define a cleaner scope, and reduce development time scales for the application. Therein also lies a challenge for the data architect: accepting and adapting to the newer technologies and techniques required by the "new" application.

Survey Wrap-Ups

>According to the new eLatin America Report, overall e-commerce revenues in Latin America will increase substantially to $67 billion by 2004. Total e-commerce revenues in Latin America reached $3.6 billion in 2000, with business-to-business (B2B) transactions of $2.85 billion and business-to-consumer transactions of $724 million.

>U.S. companies of all sizes are expected to invest heavily in their Internet infrastructure in the coming years, according to Cahners In-Stat Group. The high-tech market research firm suggests that the Internet-specific investments of U.S. businesses will account for nearly 26 percent of their total IT spending in 2004, up from just 15 percent in 2000.

>According to a survey conducted by e-business solutions provider, 54 percent of respondents believe mobile commerce will find acceptance in the U.S. within one year, despite the fact that 96 percent believe mobile commerce credit card security is an issue. Respondents also believe the leading mobile commerce application will be purchasing event tickets, such as theater and sports tickets.

>As thousands of laid-off dot-com employees search for new jobs, almost half say they would risk working for another dot-com if the opportunity arose. According to the 293 laid-off dot-com employees polled by Vault, the Insider Career Network, 49 percent said they would be willing to work for another dot-com, while 51 percent said they are no longer interested in working in the Internet industry.