Software architecture is a specialty, which is distinct from software engineering, programming, and project management. A Software Architect balances and resolves design forces from many perspectives, including system stakeholders and system developers. Software architects are responsible for a much wider and interesting range of issues (technical, intuitive, and human factors) than we typically associate with project management. Software architects create technical plans that coordinate the work of groups of programmers, resolving significant system-wide risks and project/technical inefficiencies. The Software Architect role is an important career path for lead programmers and other IT professionals, as an alternative to project management.

Source: "The Software Architect's Profession" by Marc T. Sewell and Laura M. Sewell

In computing, the term service-oriented architecture (SOA [pronounced "so-uh" or "es-o-a"]) expresses a perspective of software architecture that defines the use of loosely coupled software services to support the requirements of the business processes and software users.
In an SOA environment, resources on a network are made available as independent services that can be accessed without knowledge of their underlying platform implementation.

A service-oriented architecture is not tied to a specific technology. It may be implemented using a wide range of technologies, including REST, RPC, DCOM, CORBA or Web Services. SOA can be implemented without any of these protocols, and might, for example, use a file system mechanism to communicate data conforming to a defined interface specification between processes conforming to the SOA concept. The key is independent services with defined interfaces that can be called to perform their tasks in a standard way, without the service having pre-knowledge of the calling application, and without the application having or needing knowledge of how the service actually performs its tasks.

Source:wikipedia

Enterprise Architecture is fundamental for enabling an enterprise to assimilate internal changes in response to the external dynamics and uncertainties of the information age environment. It not only constitutes a baseline for managing change, but also provides the mechanism by which the reality of the operating enterprise and its systems can be aligned with management intentions.

Enterprise Architecture(EA) is a comprehensive framework used to manage and align an organization's business processes, Information Technology (IT) software and hardware, people, operations and projects with the organization's overall strategy. A strong Enterprise Architecture process helps to answer basic questions like: What are the organization's business processes, and how is IT supporting those processes?

The enterprise architect is responsible for ensuring that each and every one of a company's IT decisions are made with its impact on the entire organization kept firmly in mind. It is the architect who prevents an organization from investing in a technology that it will eventually have to replace. It is the architect's job to look for common business processes throughout an organization so that the services IT creates can be reused. This will certainly lead to streamlining and optimum utilization of resources.

There is growing demand for Enterprise Architecture and system development in cost effective markets. The roles of Enterprise Architect, Solution Architect are new career paths, which lead to top rewards and professional recognition.

The position of IT architect has become increasingly important to the ever-changing IT industry, and is one that established corporations and start-ups are seeking. The job requires network professionals to acquire new skills. The job pays well, and opportunities are in fields ranging from finance to healthcare to retail.

Whether a structure is built of bricks, steel or computer code, the process begins with an architect and client. Together they arrive at a shared vision - a plan - that the architect guides through the bidding, construction and implementation phases. The Parthenon and the Empire State Building were built according to architectural designs, but the software industry has been building information skyscrapers without architects.

The IT Architecture is getting recognized as a critical element for realizing practical vision of the IT system for Fortune 2000 companies. With the rapid pace of change today, the need for transformation from today's inflexible business environment to an agile enterprise that can change direction rapidly has never been greater. Yet the structures, processes and systems that we have today are inflexible: they are incapable of rapid change. Methods and technologies for Rapid Delivery of e-Government and e-Business Strategies are needed that support rapid business change - with systems that also change in lock-step. This is both a business problem and a computer problem. It needs strategic direction from management, with these directions then translated into rapid delivery action by business experts working with IT experts.

As India is gearing to become the base for the product development firms and new technology companies, This conference will provide an opportunity to the architects, program managers, CIOs and CTOs to share knowledge of innovative software architecture which represents the next generation of practice for leading technologists in the software discipline.

"In India only 1-2 % of software professionals are architects. Short supply of architects is due to the traditionally service-oriented nature of the Indian software industry"- The Economic Times, 18th Jan-2005.

Architecture World conference is focused on IT architecture as a specialty, which is distinct from software engineering, programming and project management and very critical for the enterprise success. The key focus areas include understanding of EAF (Enterprise Architecture Frameworks), Model Driven Architecture (MDA), Component based product line, Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), ITSM etc. which are key for the End-User Companiesfor reducing IT costs, ensuring system longevity and enhancing productivity.

More than 30 architects from leading End-user companies, consulting & services organizations as well as product companies are going to make presentations during 2 days architecture summit.

India's largest IT Architecture Summit is expected to be attended by around 450 architects. Don't miss the largest gathering of practising architects.