A Solution Architect typically designs a particular solution, while an Enterprise Architect guides architecture across an organization. The distinction is primarily scope and decision horizon, not a universal reporting hierarchy.
A Solution Architect typically designs a particular solution, while an Enterprise Architect guides architecture across an organization. The distinction is primarily scope and decision horizon, not a universal reporting hierarchy.
| Dimension | Solution Architect | Enterprise Architect |
|---|
| Scope | One initiative and its dependencies | Capabilities and systems across the enterprise |
| Main question | How should this solution work? | How should the technology landscape evolve? |
| Typical outputs | Solution views, integration contracts, delivery constraints | Principles, capability maps, target states, transition roadmaps |
| Collaboration | Delivery teams and affected system owners | Business leaders and multiple architecture or delivery teams |
An organization wants shared customer identity across its products. The enterprise architect helps define the target capability and common principles. The solution architect designs how a new support portal uses that identity service, maps customers and handles outages.
The solution may uncover a gap in the shared service. That evidence feeds back into the enterprise roadmap rather than becoming an undocumented local workaround.
Enterprise architecture is not simply a larger diagram, and solution architecture is not necessarily less senior. Titles overlap in smaller companies. In an interview, explain who owns which decisions in the example organization rather than assuming every company uses the same structure.
A library of IT interview questions with detailed answers — from Junior to Senior.
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