Solution Accelerator:

One of the recent infrastructure trends has been the use of solution accelerator. This is a collection of resources with a configuration that is best suited to a workload. These pre-configured, canned, and ready-to-go deployment templates are the equivalent of pre-fabricated items in any industry. They could range in size from small storage to large, range in purpose from supporting a dedicated to workload to all kinds of applications, and range in cost from least expensive to one with all bells and whistles. These solution accelerators can be published by home-grown teams as well as imported from other organizations and their repositories. In this section, we will cover only the case where a solution accelerator must be developed in-house.

One of the main characteristics of a solution accelerator is that it is intended to be paired with a workload. Understanding the workload and implementing the best practices into a deployment stamp so that its blueprint can be used many times, is a prerequisite. It is this reusability of the solution accelerators that drives it to take the form of T-Shirt sizes so that workloads of the same type both big and small can leverage the same solution accelerator.

Another characteristic of the solution accelerator is that it must be built like a product and the fewer and more suited to the demand the better. When we treat it like a product rather than a solution where one is more generic and the other more specific, we become more focused in our efforts. This does not compromise on the business purpose for which the solution accelerator is designed. It merely reduces waste in terms of unnecessary distractions, prototypes, and their iterations.

As such the following principles apply to a solution accelerator: 1. Know Your Customers: Understanding your customers' needs, behaviors, and pain points is crucial. This involves continuous user research and feedback collection.2. Outcome Over Output: Focus on the outcomes and impact of the whole proposal rather than just the features. This means prioritizing features that deliver the most value to users. 3. Prioritization: Effective prioritization is essential. Solution Accelerators developers must balance various factors such as customer needs, business goals, and technical feasibility.4.Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage data and analytics to inform decisions. This helps in understanding user behavior, measuring success, and making informed adjustments. 5. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, design, marketing, and other teams. Effective communication and collaboration are key to aligning everyone towards common goals. 6. Agility and Adaptability: Be prepared to pivot and adapt based on new information, market changes, or feedback. Flexibility is crucial in the fast-paced tech industry. 7. Clear Vision and Roadmap: Develop a clear solution accelerator vision and roadmap. This helps in setting expectations, aligning the team, and guiding the development process. 8. Experimentation and Innovation: Encourage a culture of experimentation. Testing new ideas and iterating based on results can lead to innovative solutions. 9. Customer-Centric Mindset: Always keep the customer at the center of decision-making. This ensures that the solution accelerator remains relevant and valuable to its users. 10. Effective Communication: Ensure transparent and effective communication within the team and with stakeholders. This helps in managing expectations and keeping everyone informed.

These principles help solution accelerator developers navigate the complexities of the infrastructure and deliver a blueprint that meet the user needs and drive business success.