To say that job titles shouldn't include the word 'architect' unless they are actually an architect?

[itssunnyyay]

Hi all, so my partner is an architect, It takes years to become an architect and you have to be registered on the RIBA (royal institute of British architects) to call yourself an architect.

I have noticed an increasing number of jobs using the job title 'architect' that has nothing to do with architecture.. for example, "solution Architect" which is 'responsible for evaluating an organisations business needs and determining how IT can support those needs leveraging software" so .. not an architect.

Other job titles are "software architect", "senior enterprise solution architect manufacturing", "web solutions architect", "HR solutions architect", "finance and accounting digital architect", "analytics implementation architect", "deputy food architect", "platform architect" ... the list goes on

Isn't Architect a protected title? IMO job titles should actually mean something, and all of the above mean absolutely nothing?

From the Architects' Registration Board:

Only ‘architect’ is protected in this way – this means someone calling themselves an ‘architectural consultant’ or ‘architectural assistant’ is not covered by ARB’s regulatory activities.

And the intent has to be to deceive and get money from someone by making them think you are an 'architect' in the sense that is protected - i.e. someone who does what your partner does.

Which evidently, those job titles are not - they're neither intending to decieve someone that they design buildings, nor are they solely using the title 'architect' by itself.

The Cambridge Dictionary says an architect is either "a person whose job is to design new buildings and make certain that they are built correctly" or "a person responsible for achieving a particular plan or aim".

So YABU and a bit precious. It's like getting upset someone with a PhD uses the title doctor.

It is certainly a relevant term in IT.

As pp has said it’s only a protected term in one sense.

How would you describe someone who designs technology and data centres then for example? Including all the physical requirements, servers, software, cabling, build guides etc?

Because that is the job of a Solution Architect.

Also: IMO job titles should actually mean something, and all of the above mean absolutely nothing?

A 'software architect' designs and builds something - software - in accordance with various codes, styles, and requirements. The title makes perfect sense and describes precisely what they do, in accordance with the second definition of architect from the dictionary entry I posted above. An 'HR solutions architect' presumably does the same - designs and brings to life HR solutions for busineses.

While there are definitely uses of it that are a bit cringe - I wouldn't call myself a 'word architect' because I'm a journalist, like how I hate job titles that are like 'Fun Delivery Manager' 'Coding Rockstar' - in most cases it makes perfect sense.

My Husband is a Solutions Architect - the people in IT know what that means and oddly enough, I don't think he'd ever want to pretend he knew how to build or 'architect' a house.

Funnily enough, I've got a PhD in Computer Science and can use the Dr title, but don't get annoyed when medical people use it as they save lives and I can only save computers / save people from being hacked .

I think people working in the same field will know what these titles mean.......

Yes solution architect, business architect all make perfect sense. They are roles that design e.g a platform or a programme or an organisation from the 'ground' up; exactly as a traditional architect does a physical building. You not having come across them before doesn't mean they are made up.

YANBU I work in IT and rue the day some wank-faced cunt started calling everyone a fucking architect. It's incredibly ill-defined too and ranges from a system admin person via an interfaces specialist to person with highly sophisticated infrastructure plans and everything in between. Twats.

Does it even matter when they clearly aren't competing with your partner or even in the same industry? No one is going to hire a software architect to design a new building, or a deputy food architect to plan an extension. And I doubt any of those people would introduce themselves as 'an architect'. Architecture as a word encompasses building and creation outside of tangible buildings and solid structures.

As for it not meaning anything, it clearly does in those spheres as otherwise they wouldn't use that term to advertise a job. It's very definitely used and understood in IT. Some of the ones posted do sound a bit wanky, but no worse than some of the other 'cool' job titles that are around to make mundane stuff sound more interesting.

There are people called book doctors who help shape manuscripts before publication, but I don't think anyone is suggesting they are medically qualified!

You're demonstrating your lack of knowledge of a vast number of roles in IT. And it's quite a pissy thing to get annoyed by.

Aybu? Probably

Silly.

Software architects are involved in IT architecture. Just because you don't get it, doesn't mean noone else does.

I used to be a Datawarehouse Architect and designed the biggest in Europe. But you’ve properly told me off and so I’m going to refer to that job as “keyboard basher”.

Nobody is going to get confused between people working in IT with architect in their job title and an architect who designs buildings now are they? Loads of job titles mean different things in different fields - VP, Associate, Director.

Isn't Architect a protected title? IMO job titles should actually mean something, and all of the above mean absolutely nothing?

This is a bit cringe for you. I suggest reading up on these roles.

It's not a new thing for the word 'architect' to be used metaphorically. Have you never heard the expression 'every man is the architect of his own fortune', for example? That doesn't mean someone who literally sits down and draws up designs for buildings, either.

DP recently got his bike repaired by someone who has 'Bike Doctor' on his business card. Again - metaphorical. Nobody would confuse him with a medical doctor.

I think you're just being really precious about this, to be honest. Someone whose job title is 'software architect' isn't in competition with a literal architect in any way.

YABU an architect takes a complete systems approach to the design of an engineered product or process. That could be a house, a factory, an aircraft, a ship, an IT system, a financial product etc etc. I'm not registered with RIBA but I am most definitely allowed to use the term in my job title, it's even included in the letters after my name due to the professional body to which I belong.

Firstly, you're wrong.

Secondly, why would you be annoyed about it, it's not even you?

I'll let you know when I hear back about my complaint to Rug Doctor.

@Gardeningdream

Isn't Architect a protected title? IMO job titles should actually mean something, and all of the above mean absolutely nothing?

This is a bit cringe for you. I suggest reading up on these roles.

Obviously the use of the word architect is meant to mean designer, I can only think that they use architect because it sounds more fancy, but why don't interior designers call themselves interior architects then?

There's a Window Doctor round here but i won't be troubling him for a prescription.

I think you are being a bit precious. People know the difference, and as long as somebody isn't using the word in a construction sense without the proper qualifications then it's just a wanky job title.

@Zilla1

I'll let you know when I hear back about my complaint to Rug Doctor.

😂😂😂. I took my laptop to a local bloke who calls himself a "Tech Wizard". I was mightily hacked off when it turned out he wasn't an actual wizard.....

As someone working in tech and having worked as a software solutions architect myself, a solutions architect is the person responsible for designing the software solution. So it’s reasonable to use architect.

They design the entire infrastructure from internal software solutions to integrations of 3rd party software integrations into said solution.

All if not most of the jobs you listed involve software design and therefore the architect description is absolutely fitting to the job.

I don’t understand people like you that hold a grudge about a job title when you obviously know nothing about the actual jobs you feel like shouldn’t dare use architect.

If you bothered to research what a systems design architect does, or a solutions architect, or HR solutions architect actually does then you wouldn’t have wasted your time making this thread.

All of these roles involve software and IT design and implementation.

A software architect or solutions architect is a highly skilled and trained IT professional.

I take it your husband and you place a high level of importance on his title and feel like it should be a prestige title.

Newsflash.. the IT industry also has architects who build the very internet and technology you use OP.

Next time google the actual job titles before embarrassing yourself and taking offense.

Same as Engineer. No, the man from Currys who comes to fix your washing machine isn’t an Engineer

People really do get annoyed about everything these days! Thank you for the laugh OP 🤣

That’s not in any way comparable to a software engineer though. Not by any stretch.

why don't interior designers call themselves interior architects then?

To me, architect has connotations of designing and building frameworks of interlinking components, to make a whole system that achieves it's aims. An interior designer is more about the aesthetics; they're not stress testing systems and applying legislation or whatever.