Section 1: Summary
Enterprise Architecture represents a conceptual blueprint that defines the structure and operation of an organization. The intent of an enterprise architecture is to decide how an organization can most effectively achieve its current and future goals. Enterprise architecture looks at the current state of the organization, it helps develop and evaluate current designs and create a sketch for the future.
As business analysts, enterprise architecture represents an input to understand the organizational units that exist, their interaction with other organizational units, customers and suppliers, their responsibilities within the organization and the roles and relationships within each organizational unit [01]. It helps conduct stakeholder analysis, as it helps understand stakeholder influence and attitudes.
In this research paper, we will analyze look at the context of enterprise architecture, the history of enterprise architecture, and we will look at two popular enterprise architectures, the Zachman framework and TOGAF.
Section 2: Context and History
Context:
Enterprise Architecture was created and aimed to solve two major problems prevalent in organizations.
• System Complexity- Organizations were becoming larger and larger and IT costs were spiraling out of control
• Poor business alignment- Organizations were finding it more and more difficult to keep IT systems aligned with business needs
Organizations are faced with issues of exponentially increasing
With the IT team, the company needs to develop and define an Enterprise Operating Model and Architecture that include business strategy, current IT assessment, IT strategy and IT plans.
A technical architecture is the design and documentation of a software application. Technical architecture gives the overall picture of the application. Usually enterprise architect who understand the business and fluent in technology provide the important bridge between MIS and business. Technical architecture provides a blueprint schematic for developers to use when they are building or modifying a computer system. The technical architecture typically defines the communication networks, security, hardware, and software that are
Organizational architecture is a strategic planning initiative of the day-to-day activities or the foundation and structure in which the business operates. Moreover, it is the organization’s arrangement of systems of authority, specific departments within the company, and the responsibility and duties of those specific positions. Furthermore, the primary goal of organizational architecture is to ensure the overall success of the company by creating value to customers and all aspects of the company. Corporate culture is the way employees
To conduct an analysis of the systems requirements we will first need to understand how the company’s enterprise system is set-up. An enterprise system is the overall combination of computer hardware and software that a business uses to organize and run its operations. (What is enterprise system?)
In most of the companies, the Enterprise Architects work along with the CIO to make and enforce platform decisions.
Organizational architecture and corporate culture should be intertwined within any successful company or organization. In the text, Brickley (2009), refers to organizational architecture as being three legs of a company: assignments of decision rights, 2) methods of rewarding individuals, and 3) the structure of systems to evaluate the performance of both individuals and business units. Organizational architecture is the framework of company departments such as managerial chain of command, the duty description and
Organisation Design – This area of the map concentrates on shaping the organisation structure to the business
While this is a good opportunity to build a business and has a lot of potential Ralph has hired an Enterprise Architecture Consultant to provide a solid Business Model which will allow for more consistency and will provide a foundation for more growth in the market. The Consultant will research the company, how it currently operates and will identify areas where business process standardization would provide benefits to the organization.
1.In your opinion, what are three main topics of chapter one? How do you know if you have a good foundation?
To consider what enterprise architecture means, it is important to understand its origin. All architecture within information technology can track its ancestry back to the lessons learned from building architecture. Enterprise Architecture is the description and visualization of the structure, a blueprint if you will, of a given area of contemplation, its elements and their collaborations and interrelations links vision, strategy and feasibility, focusing on usability durability and effectiveness. Architecture enables construction, defining principles, rules, standards and guidelines,
* Business analysis will verify the needs and develop solutions to match technology to business needs. The business analysis begins with analyzing the strategic profile and implementing policy based on the analysis, next is analyzing the Business Architecture which is the current business process, and last defining the required changes that are needed to be in line with the business.
Enterprise Architecture is an all-inclusive approach to managing the complexity of IT from a business viewpoint. A framework is used to help describe how to create and use an EA, in a manner that delivers business benefit in a cost - effective way. Each framework has a different approach to adding value to the business. These criteria will identify the ways an enterprise architecture framework adds business value, how adaptability and flexibility effect the overall adoption of an enterprise architecture framework, how the deliverables contribute to the success of an enterprise architecture, how does each framework take a strategic approach to reduce complexity of enterprise architecture, and how the framework encompasses the Software Development Lifecycle.
Business–information technology alignment is the tight integration of the IT function with the organization’s strategy, mission, and goals. That is, the IT function directly supports the business objectives of the organization. Such an alignment enables firms to adhere to business objectives, and to maximize the value from investments. An excellent alignment will reduce costs, standardize processes, enhance productivity, improve workflow and communications, sustain repeatable service levels, improve Risk control mechanisms, implement new business strategies, facilitate growth, facilitate competitive advantage by exploiting new technology, enable IT driven projects to meet time and budget requirements, help to optimize the IT budget utilization. As more and more new business opportunities are created, IT plays an
Jaap Schekkerman, the founder of IFEAD’s, developed the Extended Enterprise Architecture Framework (E2AF) in the early 2000’s. The E2AF is a communication framework that is a blended framework which takes standards from IEEE 1471, describes views and viewpoints of an architecture from a software-intensive system and elements of FEAF and TOGAF and a matrix structure similar to Zachman. E2AF is an architecture program that describes subjects and relations with all key stakeholders. It helps address the topics and process steps needed to reach an organizations overall goals and objectives (Schekkerman, 2006).
The framework also contains the activities which need to occur. The framework also helps with the description of an organization, that is, its people and the different roles that are involved. Large enterprises can be very complex therefore; there is need for ways in which these complexities can be introduced. Segmenting is one way that helps reduce the complexity like in governments where there are many agencies. Another way of breaking down these complex systems is by looking at different domains. Typically, there are four main domains. The first domain is the business architecture, that is, why the business exists. It covers things like business objectives, strategic thinking and goals; also it then covers what capabilities the business has, what processes, what functions, what