Most Important Skills For A Business Solutions Architect At Avanade
A Business Solutions Architect's success hinges on strong business analysis skills, "being able to listen" and "solve problems," deeply probing client needs through root cause analysis and collaborative problem-solving with various experts to deliver comprehensive solutions. Effective communication of those solutions to the client is also paramount.
Problem-Solving, Communication, Collaboration, Business Analysis, Critical Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Meng Qi
Business Solutions Architect
Avanade
Georgia Tech, 2014
UCLA FEMBA
Engineering - Industrial
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Technology
Consulting
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are crucial for identifying and addressing client needs effectively.
2. Excellent communication and collaboration abilities are essential for working with clients and internal teams to develop comprehensive solutions.
3. A willingness to learn new technologies and adapt quickly is highly valued, as the field of Business Solutions Architecture is constantly evolving.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
At a very high level, one of the key skills all consultants need is the ability to listen. You need to have conversations with clients and understand their needs and business requirements. To me, this is business analysis, one-on-one.
For this job, because we work with clients who expect you to be highly qualified, and expect you to guide them on solving their problems, it's really important that you are able to solve problems. This includes analyzing problems and articulating your findings. You also need to listen to client needs and come up with a solution.
Many people tell me that to get a job like mine, you need experience in the specific software or product. I don't think that's always the case. If you have the drive and the expectation to learn, even if you don't know the product, you can learn it quickly in your first couple of months. I think you'll be fine and set up for success.
Another requirement for this role is the ability to ask deep questions and not be afraid to ask them. A salesperson or solution architect is better if they understand the client's business needs more. To do that, you have to ask questions.
You can't just have a surface-level conversation; you really have to dig into root causes and cause and effect. For example, if a client's inventory isn't allocating properly, and they're getting more products in one location than another, despite selling more in the latter, you need to ask why. You have to understand what processes are driving these allocations and keep digging.
Collaboration is also crucial. You won't know all the answers in consulting, so you need to be open to extensive collaboration. You might work with people in different solution areas, like pulling in a security expert for compliance or troubleshooting. It's important to know when to bring someone in and collaborate so that when you present to the client, it's a fully crafted solution with no gaps.
Obviously, most jobs require good communication. This role is no different. If you don't like talking, taking charge, or communicating what you're doing, this isn't the role for you. At the end of the day, you're designing a strategy for the client, and you need to be able to communicate that strategy and project concisely with the right amount of detail.
So, consulting involves listening, analyzing problems, figuring out the root cause, and then communicating effectively.