What Is Solution Architecture? The Black Art Of I/T Solution Architecture
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The document discusses the role of a solution architect through the lens of two methods for identifying power outages at a utility. One approach, utilizing a state response and detection device (SRADD), is inexpensive and focuses on operational efficiency, while the alternative, a smart meter solution, involves significant investments and complexity with uncertain long-term benefits. Ultimately, despite the advantages of the simpler solution, the more complex smart meter project was chosen, highlighting unpredictable outcomes in large-scale projects.
What Is Solution Architecture? The Black Art Of I/T Solution Architecture
- 1. Historic Church Annex burning on 18th Street in The Heights, March 2014 What Is Solution Architecture? A Point Of View From The Front Lines Fighting Fires
- 2. If you relish crawling into a burning building, you might have what it takes to be a Solution Architect…
- 3. This is the black art of Solution Architecture revealed through a composite of global consulting engagements…the names are changed*…the business case is not exposed here…but the patent number & team are real. *Some of my clients will recognize the name “SmartMeter” but will also see it is not specifically their project.
- 4. 3 Things 1. The business problem is the Big Burn…the raison d'être of your presence on the scene. 2. Have Plan B in your pocket…you’re going to need it. 3. Business cases are fascinating…the concern for them often seems inversely proportional to the size of the project…make peace with that.
- 5. 3 More Things 1. Business managers care about business, IT people care about IT, and vendors care about their products…this is why Solution Architecture is a black art. 2. To gain traction, solution architectures must be simple enough to be understood by business people, technical enough to be taken seriously by IT people, and brief enough to be consumed by both…vendors will not consume them under any circumstance. 3. No matter how cost effective, elegant, and doable a solution, business may choose a different one, IT may favor another, and vendors may actually sell them something else…sometimes you have to take lemons and make lemonade…embrace it.
- 6. A Tale of Two Solutions: Is the power on? One solution, an inexpensive logic board, minimal change management, maybe one new business partner, no additional vendors, no change to the IT environment, focused narrowly on op-ex…and led to a patent by the author and his team (the so-called “smart guys”). Another solution cost hundreds of millions to implement (massive cap-ex), lengthy regulatory hearings, required many new business partners, massive change management, a huge change to the technology environment, and business transformation…and hundreds of layoffs (meter readers).
- 7. Backdrop • The Author, a consulting architect was working at a major global IT consulting firm. • The composite CEO of a composite Utility tells us about the burning issues that keep him up at night. • The next day we decide to take a stab at the problem of determining which side of the meter a power outage is located.
- 8. The Business Problem 1. When a customer calls to report an outage, it can be difficult to determine which side of the meter is the outage: on the house side, it’s not the Utility’s problem…on the line side, then an expensive truck-roll by the Utility is required to restore power. 2. As many as 50% of truck-rolls turn out to be unnecessary ! 3. In the Utility business, important incentives are related to managing op-ex…eliminating unnecessary truck rolls impacts op-ex big time.
- 9. Solution No.1 • Use the electric signal on an open phone line to determine if there is power to the meter • If signal indicates power on, customer is told by the CSR to call an electrician • If signal indicates power off, roll truck to restore power to customer • Utility reduces costs through elimination of unnecessary truck-rolls
- 10. Solution Architecture No.1 Meter New SRADD State Response And Detection Device POTS Patent No.: US 6,828,906 Solution revolves around the SRADD which negotiates a state detection, tone detection, and tone generation to determine if there is power to the meter. We generalized the concept to apply to any scenario involving state detection using an open phone line and filed for a patent. Detailed drawings can be viewed on the US Patent Office Web site: HERE Existing Innovation zone confined Keep existing meters No new backend systems
- 11. To Be, Or Not To Be? • No.1—simple, inexpensive technology • Focused like a laser on op-ex reduction • Little transformation, little change management
- 12. The SRADD Architecture Voltage Detection Tone Logic Unit Detection Tone Generation POTS Interface Battery SRADD (“the device”) may be incorporated or affixed to an existing meter but need not be. The device can be added to a meter and isolated from high voltage by a relay or induction type of device. The device is coupled to a standard telephone system or POTS via a telephone line. But the device could be coupled to the Internet or a dedicated comm network coupled to a control center, or a wireless network. No interface to the Enterprise IT environment is necessary but is easily accomplished over existing network if desired. SRADD
- 13. Flow: User Perspective Begin Call Call Service State Needed? Transmit Tones Await Response Service Call End Call Yes No
- 14. Flow: SRADD Perspective Begin Monitor Receive Tones Pattern Match? Check Voltage Generate Response Transmit Response End Yes No
- 15. Flow: SRADD Processing Initiate Report Attempt Report Report Successful? Determine Wait Interval Wait No Complete Report Yes No Outage Continuing? Yes
- 16. Solution No.2 (Plan B) • Replace many millions of existing meters with new SmartMeters at customer premises • Significant Business and IT transformation and change management • Solution reduces op-ex through massive cap-ex
- 17. Solution Architecture No.2 Smart Meter Mesh network This highly complex solution revolves around new technology called SmartMeters hitting the market over the past 10 years. The meters can be “pinged” by CSR to determine outage status, auto-report meter reads, and turn-on and turn-off power by remote action. Massive new infrastructure, change management, and dramatic resource actions cost hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. The business case was “controversial.” Smart Meter Rip and replace meters Smart Meter Backhaul comm network New suite of SmartMeter Apps In IT Environment New network New untested network New backend New CSR Process Change mgt Change mgt Change mgt
- 18. SmartMeter process flows and narratives ran well over a hundred pages, few of which were understood by the general business community and many of which were mysterious to IT…to the eternal gratification of the software and device vendors.
- 19. Which solution did the client choose… SRADD or SmartMeter?
- 20. Smartmeter !
- 21. Lessons Learned? • You can never predict the outcome of a Big Burn. • Projects involving massive cap-ex, Business and IT transformation, and years to implement can have benefits that overwhelm a too-narrow business case. • If you think the building was burning when you came upon the scene, it can get worse…but you can push final design toward a better solution, make new friends, and learn something new all at the same time. Exhausted Houston firefighters - March 2014
- 22. Story Notes: • This story is based on real engagements • Composite Utility is a global representation • The patents we wrote are real • Drawings based on actual Solution Architectures • Vision-to-implementation took the better part of 10 years….it pays to have Plan B • Solution No.1 was designed in a single afternoon…to-date no one anywhere on the planet is remotely interested in it • The “not-so-smart guys” are still shaking their heads…you just never know The Author, trying to keep his head below water in Bonaire
- 23. “There’s nothing not-so-smart as a room full of smart people.” – An Experienced Consulting Architect
- 24. Photos Drawings Narratives Copyright © Nicholas Noecker Patent Team (the “smart guys”): Jerry Malcolm, Scott Winters, Paul Williamson, and Nicholas Noecker Contact njnoecker@yahoo.com 713.320.5937