Over a 30 year career I have covered many types of roles within IT. I started as a Mainframe Operator, before going onto be a LAN Manager and then a Network Designer at Barclays Bank. I then moved into Technical Management and from there Services Management and Project Management.

Although I have a very clear view of my role as a Service Architect, it is common for me to sway a little outside of that. Having spoken to many of my colleagues, we all have similar experiences of doing things outside of the standard role of Service Architecture. How many capabilities and roles do you fulfil in your role. Here are some of mine:

Business Analyst. I often take ownership of the development of requirements, especially the development of non functional, service requirements. Also develop process maps and processes in order to support the development of requirements

Project Manager. In large programmes where I’m part of a project team there is often a dependency on developing “core services” or “core capabilities” and these need project management. As a Services Lead, I will often create plans that enable delivery in workstreams and projects

Service Architect – need I say more

Test Manager / Test Assurance Manager – If I am developing requirements and designing services, I may sometimes act as a Test Manager to ensure service based testing is complete. For instance, the implementation and testing of Catalogue Request items in ServiceNow.

Knowledge Manager – I see part of my role as ensuring all the Knowledge Articles are correlated, updated, retired and fit an overall approach and strategy

Finance and Budgets Manager – I often play a part in outsourcing projects where I may need to use my experience to financially size or cost model a service

Stakeholder / Business Change Manager – Managing stakeholders is a key part of the work undertaken by a Service Architect. I often see myself as the subject matter expert who provides a conduit into the project world for those who will receive the service in BAU. Also, I will act as a Subject Matter Expert to the programme or project when wanting to know more about BAU operations

Friend / Colleague – I act as a friend to my colleagues in order to support them in the development of their own Service Artefacts. For instance, doing peer reviews

So, how many roles to you play?