The Concept of Enterprise Architecture from Theory to Practice

Even though the field of enterprise architecture (EA) has matured, many organisations still struggle with its development and implementation, particularly those organisations involved in continuous transformational cycles and subjected to different environmental trends. This book is intended to assist organisations in getting a grip on the factors influencing EA implementation and gaining a deeper understanding of why things happen the way they do in the practice of EA. It is a comprehensive and definitive resource that is useful to both business professionals and academics. The book presents an approach for the development, implementation, and institutionalisation of EA that is independent of any method or other architecture frameworks. It can be applied directly using a realistic selection of organisational variables. The approach has two distinctive features that support EA, even in complex environments: From both technical and non-technical perspectives, it identifies influencing factors and how they manifest in the practice of EA in an organisation. It offers linear and practical mechanisms for developing and implementing EA to fortify the practice of the concept in an organisation. This approach represents a significant contribution to EA. Starting with descriptions for EA, the book offers deepened models and frameworks for the development and implementation of EA at the domain level. It also covers factors upon which a model is built for the institutionalisation of the concept. Additionally, the book discusses the implications of EA for sponsors, architects, and other stakeholders responsible for EA development, implementation, and institutionalisation. 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Enterprise Architecture 1.3 Enterprise Architecture Domains 1.4 The Significance of Enterprise Architecture 1.5 Challenges of Enterprise Architecture 1.6 Contribution 1.7 Summary 2 Information Systems and Information Technology 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Computing Environment 2.3 Information Systems and Information Technology 2.4 The Inter-Relation between IS and IT 2.4.1 The Information Systems Component 2.4.2 The Information Technology Component 2.4.3 The Architecture Component 2.5 Implications of the Challenges between IS and IT 2.5.1 The Implication for Task Allocation 2.5.2 The Confusion in Practice 2.5.3 The Impact on Structure 2.5.4 The Influence on Career Pursuit 2.6 Summary 3 The Concept of Enterprise Architecture 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Concept of Enterprise Architecture 3.3 The Practice of Enterprise Architecture in Organisations 3.4 Practising Enterprise Architecture through Governance 3.5 The Strategic Nature of Enterprise Architecture 3.6 Transforming Organisation through Enterprise Architecture 3.7 Bridging the Gap through Enterprise Architecture Domains 3.7.1 Enterprise Business Architecture 3.7.2 Enterprise Information Architecture 3.7.3 Enterprise Technical Architecture 3.7.4 Enterprise Application Architecture 3.8 Implications of Deploying Enterprise Architecture 3.8.1 The Use of a Template 3.8.2 The Culture Effect 3.8.3 The Required Skillset 3.9 Summary 4 The Deployment of Enterprise Business Architecture for Organisation Enhancement 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Enterprise Architecture in Organisations 4.3 Components of Enterprise Business Architecture 4.4 Definition and Clarification of Tenets 4.5 Understanding the Tenets towards EBA Deployment 4.5.1 The Architecture of a Business 4.5.2 The Elements of the Transformative Scheme 4.6 A Guide for Enterprise Business Architecture Deployment 4.6.1 Organisational Needs 4.6.2 Architectural Requirements 4.6.3 Business Modelling 4.6.4 Process Modelling 4.6.5 Business Patterns 4.6.6 Implementation 4.6.7 Project 4.6.8 Gap Analysis 4.7 Summary 5 Information Architecture in the Enterprise 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The Architecture of Information 5.3 Developing Enterprise Information Architecture 5.4 Creating Enterprise Information Architecture Principles 5.5 Enterprise Information Architecture in an Organisation 5.5.1 Design Principles 5.5.2 Development Principles 5.5.3 Implementation Principles 5.5.4 Migration Planning Principles 5.5.5 Measurement and Validation 5.5.6 Gap Analysis 5.6 Factors Influencing Enterprise Information Architecture 5.6.1 Criticality of Principles 5.6.2 Iterative Process 5.6.3 Information Architects 5.6.4 Ownership 5.6.5 Stock of Knowledge 5.7 Summary 6 The Deployment of Enterprise Application Architecture 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Application and Enterprise Architecture Application Challenges 6.3 Enterprise Application Architecture 6.4 The Practice of Enterprise Application Architecture 6.5 Requirements Gathering 6.6 Current and Future States 6.6.1 EAA View of the Current State 6.6.2 EAA Positioning of the Future State 6.7 Application Development 6.8 Application Implementation 6.9 Build, Buy, Reuse 6.10 Governance 6.10.1 The Architecture Principles 6.10.2 The Architecture Policy 6.10.3 The Architecture Standards 6.11 Enterprise Architecture Application Engineering Change 6.12 Enterprise Application Architecture Change Process 6.13 Enterprise Application Architecture Change Implication 6.14 The Impact of Change 6.15 Summary 7 The Practice of Enterprise Technical Architecture 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Enterprise Technical Architecture 7.3 The Practice of Enterprise Technical Architecture 7.3.1 Phase One: Objectives 7.3.2 Phase Two: Requirements 7.3.3 Phase Three: ETA Development 7.3.4 Phase Four: Implementation 7.4 Summary 8 Enterprise Architecture as IT Strategy 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Enterprise Architecture Deployment 8.3 Source of Data 8.4 Enterprise Architecture Planning 8.4.1 Requestor 8.4.2 Stakeholder 8.4.3 Domain Owner 8.4.4 Architecture Team 8.5 Factors Affecting Enterprise Architecture Deployment 8.5.1 Governance 8.5.2 Evolution 8.5.3 IT and Business Strategies Articulation 8.5.4 Operationalisation of Principles 8.5.5 Business Information Modelling 8.6 Enterprise Architecture as IT Strategy 8.6.1 Enterprise Business Architecture as IT Strategy 8.6.2 Enterprise Information Architecture as IT Strategy 8.6.3 Application Architecture as IT Strategy 8.6.4 Technical Architecture as IT Strategy 8.7 Summary 9 The Implementation of Enterprise Architecture in an Organisation 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Enterprise Architecture in Organisations 9.3 The Implementation of Enterprise Architecture in an Organisation 9.4 Components of Enterprise Architecture Implementation 9.4.1 Guiding Principles 9.4.2 Implementation Policy 9.4.3 Strategic Relationship and Ownership 9.4.4 Performance Measurement 9.4.5 Conformance 9.5 Summary 10 The Zachman Framework for the Implementation of Enterprise Architecture 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Enterprise Architecture 10.2.1 Implementing Enterprise Architecture 10.2.2 The Zachman Framework 10.3 Enterprise Architecture Deliverables 10.3.1 Enterprise Factors 10.3.2 The Influencing Factors 10.3.3 Architecture Factors 10.4 Zachman Framework Mapped with Enterprise’s Activities 10.5 Summary 11 A Readiness-Based Approach for Enterprise Business Architecture Practice 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Review of Related Works 11.3 Actor-Network Theory: Translation 11.4 Research Methodology 11.5 Translation of the Data 11.5.1 What Was Translated and Who Was Involved? 11.5.2 Why and How Did Translation Happen? 11.5.3 Where and When Did Translation Occur? 11.6 EBA-RAM: Discussion of the Test Result 11.6.1 The Usefulness of the Assessment Model 11.6.2 Value Addition to EBA Development 11.6.3 Design and Automation of EBA Processes 11.6.4 Ease of Use of the Assessment Model 11.7 Implications for Enterprise Business Architecture Practice 11.8 Summary 12 Institutionalisation of Enterprise Architecture 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Institutionalisation of Enterprise Architecture 12.3 Institutionalisation of Enterprise Architecture in Organisations 12.4 Enterprise Architecture Implementation Determinant Factor 12.4.1 Adaptiveness 12.4.2 Innovation 12.4.3 Uniformity 12.4.4 Alignment 12.5 Factors Influencing the Institutionalisation of EA 12.5.1 Organisational Structure 12.5.2 Economic Investment 12.5.3 Administration 12.5.4 Organisational Politics 12.5.5 Technical Capability 12.5.6 Business Buy-In 12.6 Summary 13 The Impact of Training and Skillsets on Enterprise 13 The Impact of Training and Skillsets on Enterprise Architecture Implementation 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Enterprise Architecture 13.3 Enterprise Architecture Skills and Training 13.4 Enterprise Architecture Skills 13.4.1 Formal Education and Training 13.4.2 Technical Leadership 13.4.3 Political Will 13.5 Summary Index Even though the field of enterprise architecture (EA) has matured, many organisations still struggle with its development and implementation, particularly those organisations involved in continuous transformational cycles and subjected to different environmental trends. This book is intended to assist organisations in getting a grip on the factors influencing EA implementation and gaining a deeper understanding of why things happen the way they do in the practice of EA. It is a comprehensive and definitive resource that is useful to both business professionals and academics.The book presents an approach for the development, implementation, or institutionalisation of EA that is independent of any method or other architecture frameworks. It can be applied directly using a realistic selection of organizational variables. The approach has two distinctive features that support EA, even in complex environments: From both technical and non-technical perspectives, it identifies influencing factors and how they manifest in the practice of EA in an organization It offers linear and practical mechanisms for developing and implementing EA to fortify the practice of the concept in an organisation This approach represents a significant contribution to EA.Starting with descriptions for EA, the book offers deepened models and frameworks for the development and implementation of EA at the domain level. It also covers factors upon which a model is built for the institutionalisation of the concept. Additionally, the book discusses the implications of EA for sponsors, architects, and other stakeholders responsible for EA development, implementation, and institutionalisation.