An ICT expert has recommended colleagues in the sector in Samoa reach out to peers who are specialised in an area as not everyone is skilled in all areas of information technology.

Eugene Barker, an experienced IT architect, and consultant with over 15 years of experience in the field, told members of the Samoa Information Technology Association (SITA) on Wednesday not everyone is skilled in all facets of ICT.

He said this is why it is important to reach out to fellow ICT colleagues who have specialised skills in an area to fill that knowledge gap.

Mr. Barker was speaking at the Association's first episode of its IT Architecting series, which revolved around the theme "architectural thinking", according to a press release issued on Thursday by the Association. 

The episode emphasised the importance of IT architecture, a discipline with a specific way of thinking and well-defined methods for developing IT systems at scale. 

Every system has architecture, and planned architecture is crucial for efficiently building large systems by teams, said Mr. Barker. He said like in construction, blueprints are used to describe the architecture, and these blueprints have separate views designed to address different concerns.

He also discussed the different career paths available for IT architects and various practices and specialties within the field. The event covered the 4+1 Architectural View Model, consisting of five views: System Context, Use Case, Component, Deployment, and Operational.

Attendees of the workshop had the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with Mr. Barker, querying the 4+1 Architectural View Model and its real-world applications. In response, he emphasised that IT architecture is crucial for deliberate decision-making and managing risks, particularly when the cost of failure is high. 

Mr. Barker's background includes a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in software engineering. He has worked with various organisations, both large and small, to help them design and develop their IT systems while leveraging his expertise in IT architecture, design patterns, and software development methodologies. 

The Association said it's IT Architecting Episode 1 was a success, with more than 20 members from various agencies and experience levels. Mr. Barker's insights and expertise provided attendees with valuable knowledge and steps to apply in their work. 

The event program included registration opening at 5 pm, followed by a welcome note from Faasootauloa, a prayer from Alex Abraham, a keynote from SITA President Leota Sarai Faleupolu Tevita, Eugene Barker's presentation, a Membership Working Group Update, a photo session, refreshments, and a thank you note.