The goal of enterprise architecture is to create an accurate blueprint for an organization's operations. This blueprint should include a detailed IT assets and business processes map. It also promotes team alignment and standardization. Essentially, EA aims to unify the environments and teams in an organization.
Enterprise architecture is a practice that is concerned with the design of an organization's information systems. It includes the logical and physical data assets and the systems that manage those data assets. This practice is also concerned with the business processes supported by these data assets. Currently, there are several frameworks for enterprise architecture.
According to Michael Platt, a director in the strategic projects group at Microsoft, enterprise architecture can be viewed from four different perspectives. In the first view, business processes are defined, and the second view represents the systems that will support them. Finally, the third viewpoint describes the technology used to support those processes.
Today, many organizations require emerging digital tools and artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, traditional approaches to enterprise architecture may hamper the adoption of these technologies. Traditional methods are not geared to move quickly and often have a monolithic technical foundation. As a result, access to new data sources requires extensive work. Furthermore, users must be able to locate the data they need quickly. And in the end, enterprise architecture must be agile and customer-centric.
Enterprise architecture is a strategic and technical framework that defines the elements of an organization. The goal of enterprise architecture is to drive value for the organization and to optimize IT spending. It also helps link strategy formulation and execution. Moreover, it facilitates communication between business and IT. Ultimately, enterprise architecture is the best way to leverage your IT budget for maximum impact.
Enterprise architecture is often compared to the cathedral and the bazaar. The former reflects the old-school method of architecture, while the latter is the product of modern architecture. The cathedral is a massive structure that takes years to build and requires significant effort to adapt to the changing environment. The latter is characterized by various resources, including facilities, money, and reputation.
The traditional approach to enterprise architecture does not work in the digital age. While most organizations understand that software development has become more agile, most organizations still view architecture as a static planning exercise. It is time to shift to a modern approach that is more appropriate for today's rapidly evolving business needs.
FEAF is an eight-volume manual that outlines a methodology for enterprise architecture. It provides a framework for building a complex enterprise and offers guidelines for IT resources. Although FEAF was created for the government, it has since become a popular EA model for private companies.
Enterprise architecture is often the responsibility of a chief digital officer or chief information officer. This person must have a solid understanding of computer systems and the company's business goals. They must also be able to communicate with business managers and technical developers and understand new technologies. In addition, these individuals are often responsible for defining business objectives and driving IT implementation.
Good architecture should be communicated effectively to stakeholders. The effectively communicated architecture will give confidence to enterprise leaders, which is essential in driving change. In addition, an EA can be an effective tool for directing the adaptation. The EA process will drive business change. So, what does good architecture look like?
