Inchoate Curmudgeon

I agree with the list of What coworkers need to noodle for 2010…, but its missing at least one thing: Web 2.0.

I’m not sure its an oversight, even though posted at 7:30AM on Saturday, way before my coffee. (Milk and cookies kept you awake, eh James?). The only obvious technology or technical architectural features related to Web 2.0 are AJAX and RSS. The rest of it is social and political. Maybe this is why it isn’t on the list?

Then again, architecture isn’t just about technical things, I think sometimes it would be nice if it were. An architect that can’t swim in ambiguity isn’t an architect, he’s an engineer. This isn’t a slam on engineers, its just a skill set for a different problem and solution space.

For example, none of the issues affecting the implementation of IT Governance are technical, although the lack of adequate governance models cause a lot of non-value added technical chaos. At least Web 2.0 doesn’t include the highly-charged inter-personal and organizational politics that implementing adequate governance models does.

I’m looking forward to Web 2.0, ambiguity and all, for now anyway.