What role does a business architect play in relation to a system architect?

The role of a business architect is primarily centered on understanding the business needs and translating them into specific requirements for the system being developed. This involves managing application requirements and specifications, which ensures that the system aligns with the organization's goals, strategies, and processes.

Business architects interact closely with stakeholders to gather insights and requirements, which are critical in guiding the development team towards building systems that not only meet technical specifications but also deliver real business value. This collaboration is vital for ensuring that the final system is functional from a business perspective.

In contrast, while system architects focus on the technical aspects of the application architecture, such as system design, implementation strategies, and ensuring scalability and performance, their role does not typically include the broader business requirement management that is fundamental to the business architect's responsibilities. Similarly, tasks like overseeing data integration and implementing testing protocols are usually aligned with different roles within the technology team, making them less relevant to the specific function of a business architect.