Enterprise architects are to business systems as town planners are to cities. They plan and govern business systems to ensure that they are robust and meet the real needs of all enterprise stakeholders. According to the Federation of EA Professional Organisations, Enterprise Architecture is:
“a well-defined practice for conducting enterprise analysis, design, planning, and implementation, using a holistic approach at all times, for the successful development and execution of strategy”.
This role is delegated to the Enterprise Architect, who performs a review of the business’ structure and processes and aligns these to the goals of effectiveness, efficiency, agility and durability.
The best framework for the governance of Enterprise Architecture is “The Open Group Architecture Framework” (TOGAF®) and ATE Enterprises is a world leader specialising in TOGAF® training and certification which is one of the World class Enterprise Architecture specifications developed by The Open Group.
Enterprise Architecture Defined
- The description of an enterprise as a system in terms of its components, their inter-relationships, and the principles and guidelines governing the design and its evolution
- The description is usually done to identify gaps between the current state and a desired future state
- This design provides a roadmap for the organization to achieve its goals and deliver its objectives
- Enterprise Architecture Is often described at multiple levels of breadth and depth
- At its most effective, Enterprise Architecture enables effective execution of an organization’s strategy
- IT Architecture is a major enabling component of an Enterprise Architecture
Why do I need Enterprise Architecture?
- Effective management and exploitation of information is key to business success and competitive advantage
- A good Enterprise Architecture optimises the (fragmented) legacy of processes (manual and automated) to an integrated environment
- Response to change
- Supports delivery of the business strategy
- Enables the right balance between IT efficiency and business innovation
Business Drivers for Enterprise Architecture
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Integrating cultures of disparate organizations
- Getting People to work together (more) effectively
- Increasing profitability
- Compliance with Government regulations – cost effectively
- Improving return on investment
- Managing operational costs through “right-sizing”
- Better utilization of IT resources and assets
- Changing business environment
- Leverage new technology
- Responding to new markets and business opportunities
Benefits of Enterprise Architecture
- Alignment with the company’s Business Model and Strategy
- Information Systems and technology fully support your business
- Continuous business evolution and improved quality of work output
- Improved business flexibility delivered via a clear framework, defined structure, and standards
- Reduced time to market
- Better return on existing investment and reduced risk for future investment
- Bring functions together to share skills, experience and knowledge
- Better asset utilisation
- Better assess the impact of changes
- Provide cost effective IT infrastructure leading to a more efficient IT operation
- Enable business changes, technologically based business opportunities and innovation
- Facilitate the introduction of new technologies
- Allow standardisation
- Facilitate outsourcing if required
- Information (or data) consolidation
- Reduce enterprise/application integration complexity
- Faster, simpler and cheaper procurement