standard IT architects

IT architect is one of the hottest jobs in tech right now, thanks in part to more companies trying to build service-oriented architectures. The problem: Not everyone agrees about what IT architects are supposed to do or know.

...

IT standards consortium Open Group is launching the industry's first professional association for IT architects. Called the Association of Open Group Enterprise Architects [AOGEA], it's looking to "elevate" the profession by promoting certification and establishing ethics standards and architecture principles.

...
A shortage of IT pros who can guide SOA development is one of the biggest hurdles for SOA adoption. Analyst firm ZapThink and staffing company Excel, seeing a market in that shortage, have launched the Architect Resource Center, a consulting service

from InformationWeek - IT Architects In High Demand - January 29, 2007

I'm all for architecture principles and standards.  I think certification is bullsh-t though (not just for IT architecture, for any kind of IT).  And if you can't figure out ethics on your own, no Association is going to help you.  AOGEA seems to have a needlessly complex structure based around certification levels.  Count me out for the time being.  Err, although the conference in Paris looks nice...

For the record, my title is Technology Architect - IT, but since that is rarely meaningful to people, I usually tell them I'm a technology planner (or if I'm feeling grand, an enterprise strategic technology planner).