I saw a change happening since 1995. The number of global individuals (many very talented) learned technology architecture within the confines of a business industry or more refined as a business application. As outsourcing grew, and the number of American IT jobs shrank, the masses of out of work IT folks flocked to the available jobs by defining themselves at Business Architects or Enterprise Architects. Some even got certifications for proof.

When the great recession hit in 2005 (yes, earlier than the official start), IT people were selling themselves as someone with broader knowledge and racing to the bottom on price.  Supply and demand took over and those looking for Business Architects or Enterprise Architects…were actually looking for factory workers who understood architecture, could code, oh yeah, and understood business (the proof being an MBA). The small print on many job applications had as the last line “have good written and verbal skills.” There was no passion except to say what was needed to get the job. Certifications were for the sole purpose of getting the job.

When the official recession hit in 2008, the companies had a different perspective as well. Anything that could be outsourced was. After all, the processes clearly defined on how to do it. It was a commodity factory job sold to the lowest bidder.

• Have what staff we have left do the work of 3 people; it clearly is an opportunity for those to obtain a broader knowledge on the process…before we outsource it.
• Hey Business and Enterprise Architects…Don’t ask me about the future; I’m worried about NOW and surviving NOW. I do not want to look at vision…it’s too bleak. Please, tell me how I can cut costs. Visionaries need not apply. You are over qualified for what we need NOW…and may make me lose my job.

Here we are at the end of 2011. Because of the recent decade or two, we have:

• People with jobs are so overworked they can’t think strategically.
• The companies have built survival processes and not growth processes.
• Architects have built battle walls around specific methods, methodology, frameworks within their own experience unwilling to compromise for fear of not being the flavor of the month to be hirable. The passion was about survival.

I’ve morphed over the last five years. I see the future, so eloquently described by Seth Godin, where:

• process-oriented jobs will continue to be outsourced
• creativity and art will solve big problems
• temporary work for a specific project will surpass tenured employees
• future-thinking companies will hire (globally) for passion and teach the needed skills
• business collaboration will be outside the corporate boundaries working together to making a difference
• you will be hired for your creativity, vision, and ability to communicate with those not like you.

Unfortunately, I’m in the “early adoption” phase of this way of thinking. What I used to consider my colleagues and clients still define Business and Enterprise architecture as IT-Centric.

Luckily, I’m not alone. I leave the great thinkers in the area of Enterprise Architecture to continue their great work. Just to name a few passionate thinkers who will prepare the roadway when the late majority catches on:

• Tom Graves
• Oscar Berg
• Nigel Green
• Chris D Potts

Where is this “over-qualified” business architect going?

I will continue to lurk and even prod their thinking from a slightly different business perspective. For great thinkers thrive on the challenge before us all…To prepare us for the post-industrial era of factory minded work…to prepare us for the passionate art of communicating with people not like themselves. To help companies of all sizes interact through the Holistic enterprise.

So here I am. Still with the passion I had in my early teens.

I love business. I love learning about business. I’m happiest when I learn something new and can work with others towards growing a business for the future. But I can no longer bang my head against the industrial-thinking of today’s corporate world. I can no longer work with people whose goal is to defend instead of grow.

I’m a strategic thinker and am applying my skills towards a different niche.

I’m cleaning up and closing the formal Strategic Business Decisions. This blog will be shut down in a week.

I’m starting a new business based upon my passion with the framework of where I see the future of business. It’s new…it’s exciting…and it’s helping businesses. See ya @ Viditude.

His contact information is:

kevin@inspiredcommunicationsllc.com
732-778-7847

A motivational coach and keynote speaker who is right for you!