Various Architecture Staffing Models
Choosing an Architect workforce model that addresses your particular needs is a critical step in development of your IT environment. Instead of capturing a staffing model from a full-time architect, consider asking the executive, or director, or technical sponsor for the main role a simple question. That question being: “What will the role do after the first two projects/tasks?”
Architect As Full-Time Employee
Retention | Quality | Level of Work | Growth | Total Cost |
Low, Good ones move on | Plateaus after two projects. No guaranteed output after first two projects. As well, ramp-up time typically more as requires more upfront training | Full-time, even if after first two projects workload does not match | Its either a tech architect for short-term or exec. architect for long-term, rarely can you find both in one and keep them. No guarantee of knowledge transition to team/corporation. | $150-200k/yr |
$100-150k in salary plus 20% in benefits plus training, on-boarding every 3 years |
Architect As Full-time Employee – With Executive Responsibilities (Not Necessarily Supervisory)
Retention | Quality | Level of Work | Growth | Total Cost |
Increases based on add-ons | Keeps Good ones around and performance-based pay | Full-time commitment, but workload may not match change agent value – would have to find work | Performance can only incent so much, so this is same problem as employee model | $175-275k/yr |
$100-150k in salary plus 20% in benefits plus training, on-boarding plus 20% in performance and/or equity |
Independent Contract-based Employee Architect As Near Full-Time Or Full-Time
Retention | Quality | Level of Work | Growth | Total Cost |
Renew based on defined, known key result directives/areas. Typically this is one with relationship that exists so sometimes harder to let go | Renewal-based to help buy-back risk on post first two projects. | Can be full-time, part-time or variable (FFP, T&M) and renewal-based | Can either watch growth, change detail responsibility, or lower hours in one architect. No guarantee of knowledge transition to team/corporation. | $150-250k/yr |
Typically T&M models with NTE of full-time investment, less onboarding, no benefits/FUCA |
Hybrid – Independent Consulting Architect To Do & Lead Junior Full-time Employees
Retention | Quality | Level of Work | Growth | Total Cost |
Renew based on defined, known key result directives/areas. Sometimes harder to let go if junior employees have grown attached | Renewal-based to help buy-back risk on post first two projects as well as increase corporate knowledge retention | Can be full-time, part-time or variable (FFP, T&M) and renewal-based | Assure knowledge transition and investment in growing staff | $175-275k/yr $120-$200/hour with volume discounts. Typically more efficient than 100% full-time models |
Architecture Firm Consulting Services
Retention | Quality | Level of Work | Growth | Total Cost |
Renew and include key personnel requirements | Have more access to various executive, enterprise, solutions, technical, data, process, and services architecture as well as additional deeper tech-reachback | Can be individual or multiple full-time, part-time or variable (FFP, T&M) and renewal-based | Can vary investment in different architect types that change as the fast disruptive | $75 to up 300k/yr for equivalent of 1 FTE Higher cost per hour, less hours Recommend 3 to 8 $25 to 75k task order in first year max. |
Interim Consult/Contract
Retention | Quality | Level of Work | Growth | Total Cost |
Known end with options to extend | same as non-employee options above | Typically Full-time as it is placeholding for full-time position | Varies by model chosen above – contract, independent consultant, consulting firm | $125-300k/yr |
As well, given the task order is more long-term, and has authority as would employee, this reduces the “consulting” model tension | Varies greatly and sometimes requires hefty headhunter fee |
Xentity can support any of these staffing models through contract-to-hire, staff augmentation, or via various consulting capacities.