Gregor Hohpe's book
The Software Architect Elevator: Redefining the Architect's Role in the Digital Enterprise is not what I expected it to be. I was lead to this book after listening to an interview with him on
Beyond Coding. This book is about being an
enterprise architect and not a
systems architect. It does contain much good advice for the systems architect, but the enterprise architect is a far different role. This role is deeply technical and equally C-level managerial. Hohpe uses the elevator metaphor to emphasize the need to travel up and down the enterprise's managerial and technical floors. The topics covered range from communicating effectively to organizational transformation. All treatments, however, are about technology in support of the enterprise.
The book is useful to any principle engineer, staff engineer, or systems architect looking for clarity as to their place and professional advancement in companies larger than their current employer.
I do now wonder how this role differs from a CTO. The purity of the CTO roles does seem to depend on the size of the enterprise. This LinkedIn discussion is useful.
