Enterprise Architecture Guide
posted by John Spacey, October 21, 2022Our collection of enterprise architecture tools including strategy, principles, techniques, frameworks and methods.
| Area | Tool |
| Basics | Enterprise Architecture Definition What is enterprise architecture? Why Enterprise Architecture Is Valuable A list of value propositions for an enterprise architecture team. Architecture vs Design An overview of the differences between architecture and design. Structure Follows Strategy A fundamental principle of enterprise architecture. Current State Blueprints What is a current state enterprise architecture blueprint? EA Simplified How to explain enterprise architecture to your grandmother. EA Diagrams Understand enterprise architecture with these 7 simple diagrams. Origin of Enterprise Architecture How old is enterprise architecture? Future of EA Why enterprise architecture is poised to boom. EA Reporting Line Who should enterprise architecture report to? |
| Principles | EA Principles 101 principles of enterprise architecture. Value of EA Principles How to squeeze value from EA principles. Innovation Principles 40 principles for an innovation culture. Why Principles? 7 reasons you need architecture principles. |
| Architectural Trade-offs | Automation vs. Collaboration How far are you willing to take automation? Innovation vs. Standardization When standardization collides with innovation. Risk vs. Return Are you willing to bet the farm? Security vs. Freedom Security is often a trade off to freedom. |
| Current State Architecture | Current State Definition What is a current state? Why Current State is Easy How to avoid the current state time suck. Current State Template A high level template for current state architecture. Why Current State? 9 reasons you need a current state architecture. Current State Mistakes 5 common current state architectural blueprint mistakes. Business Capability Map The most important diagram in all of business architecture. System Application Map Your system landscape in one diagram. Enterprise Taxonomies How to build a hot enterprise taxonomy. |
| Future State Architecture | Simplification How to simplify your enterprise architecture in 10 easy steps. EA Idea Pipeline A typical real world EA process. Enterprise Services The 9 essential enterprise services. EA success A few rules of thumb for succeeding with enterprise architecture. Virtuous Cycle of EA When everything falls into place. Innovation A guide to business & technology innovation. |
| Business Architecture | Business Architecture Overview Business architecture at 50,000 feet. Business Architecture Inputs & Outputs Typical work products related to the business architecture phase of TOGAF. Business Guide A guide to business including strategy planning. |
| Data Architecture | Big Data Our guide to the big data universe. What is Big Data? 10 big data definitions, take your pick. Enterprise Integration The 5 levels of enterprise integration. What's the Value of Data? Data is worth more than the sum of its records. |
| Enterprise Architecture Governance | EA Governance The 7 styles of enterprise architecture governance. KISS of EA Governance It's common for EA governance processes to be far more complex than they need to be. IT Governance Process A sample IT governance process. IT Cost Transparency IT cost transparency for fun and profit. IT Financial Management IT financial management resources. IT Governance Pitfalls 8 common IT governance pitfalls. |
| Enterprise Architecture Patterns | Business Capability Driven EA There are many paths to success but only one path to business-IT alignment. Self Service Service automation for customer satisfaction. Vanilla Tools The underappreciated basic tools that support business. Big Box Success The value of big box EA. |
| Enterprise Architecture Anti Patterns | Enterprise Over-engineering A classic example of enterprise over-engineering. Administrative Architecture Administrators make terrible architects. Big Box Enterprise Architect High level and out of touch. EA as Change Management Enterprise architecture is not change management. EA vs. CIO Is your CIO comfortable with enterprise architecture success? Angry CIO How to make your CIO angry in 10 easy steps. Politically Oriented Architecture Architecture shaped by politics. Resume Oriented Architecture Projects that are great for your architect's resume but bad for business. The Ivory Tower Enterprise Architect Perfectly elegant architectures that are perfectly out of touch. The Sinking Enterprise Architect EAs who get sucked down into solution architecture, infrastructure details or even development. The Vicious Cycle of Enterprise Architecture When EA goes wrong, things are only likely to get worse. Trend Oriented Architecture Be trendy, impress your friends, build your resume and waste your organization's resources. Hype Driven Architecture Buying in at the peak of inflated expectations and selling as value is achieved. Vendor Lock-in Wouldn't it be nice to painlessly switch vendors? When Enterprise Architecture Sells Out The sales-oriented enterprise architect. Pancakes with a Hairdryer The ugliest architecture and what it taught me about business. |
| Value of Enterprise Architecture | Value of EA 10 reasons enterprise architecture is the best investment any company can make. EA Value Proposition 14 enterprise architecture value propositions. ROI for Enterprise Architecture What's the value of strategic planning? IT Support for EA Is it foolish to think that IT will support EA? CIO Support for EA 4 things you should ask your CIO to do to support enterprise architecture. |
| Marketing Enterprise Architecture | Architectural Themes The good, the bad and the ugly. Selling EA How to sell the value of enterprise architecture with opportunities and solutions. Selling EA with Sound Bites One technique of gaining acceptance for EA. EA Sound Bites 101 enterprise architecture sound bites. EA Marketing How to develop a enterprise architecture marketing plan. Engaging EA Lean forward and participate enterprise architecture. Sell EA to the Right People Are you knocking on the wrong doors? EA Stakeholders The 20 people In your organization who need enterprise architecture. |
| Mistakes & Failure | EA Pitfalls Architects aren't police and 7 other EA pitfalls. Common EA Mistakes 7 common enterprise architecture mistakes. Enterprise Architecture is Dead Is EA on the decline or upswing? EA Failure Case Study Failure of the US government's enterprise architecture program. |
| Vocabularies | EA's Guide to Avoiding Loaded Words How to avoid loaded words. Adjectives That Describe EA Enterprise architects choose their words carefully. |
| Metrics & Measurement | Enterprise Architecture Metrics 7 key enterprise architecture metrics. EA Scorecard So you think you're doing enterprise architecture? Types of EA Metrics The 3 types of EA metrics. Cloud Metrics 20 easy to use cloud metrics. ITIL Metrics 20 easy to use ITIL metrics. IT metrics 51 IT metrics you can start using today. |
| TOGAF | TOGAF is for Rookies The value of TOGAF. TOGAF Overview TOGAF in 90 seconds. Enforcing TOGAF Applying TOGAF across an organization. TOGAF Customization How to customize TOGAF. |
| Zachman Framework | Zachman Framework Overview Zachman framework in 3 easy diagrams. Zachman on Change Management A few words from Zachman on change management. Old School Zachman The more enterprise architecture changes the more it stays the same. |
| Chief Architects | Chief Architect Job Description The responsibilities of a Chief Architect. Chief Architect Styles Cowboy or robot? |
| Advanced EA Concepts | Why? Why is the place to be for EA. Enterprise Architecture and Happiness How EA makes stakeholders happy. EA & Games Why enterprise architects need to understand games. Enterprise Architecture Scorecard How to score an EA program. The Physics of Technology Technology is a three dimensional universe ... Why Best Practices Are Mediocre Many organizations approach business like trendy high school kids approach fashion. |
| Inspiration & General Silliness | Einstein Was an Enterprise Architect What if Albert Einstein had been an enterprise architect? Architect Drunk Implement Sober Can this advice apply to enterprise architecture? The Ernest Hemingway Guide To EA Ernest Hemingway's simple, accessible, gripping style. EA Excellence Mirror mirror on the wall who has the most advanced enterprise architecture of them all ... Lazy Architects Why lazy architects are so successful. Lazy Guide to Enterprise Software The lazy architect's guide to enterprise software. IT Yes Men The unstoppable army of IT yes men. Software Customization Pyramid The Pharaohs were on to something. Interesting Architecture Is your architecture like a good movie? EA Quotations 101 quotations for enterprise architects. Architecture vs. Architecture How do construction architects feel about technology architects? IT Sucks But We're Not Sure Why What your business really thinks. Pessimist's Guide to EA Sturgeon's Law states that 90% of everything is ... Why EAs Understand Alien Technologies How to quickly understand new technology. |
Careers
A few career resources for enterprise architects.| Career | Career Tool |
| Interviews | Enterprise Architecture Interview Questions 101 interview questions for EAs. Common EA Interview Questions 10 questions that pop up in every enterprise architecture interview. CIO Interview Questions 101 interview questions for CIOs. IT Manager Interview Questions 102 interview questions for IT managers. How To Win Your Next Job A large collection of interview questions and strategies. |
| Skills | Soft Skills for EAs 11 essential soft skills for EAs. Program Management Skills 98 program management skills. Project Management Skills 125 project management skills. Skills Inventory 1000s of standard skill descriptions by profession. |
Technology, Business & Management
A few topic guides that may be of interest to enterprise architects.| Area | Guide |
| Technology | Cloud Computing A guide to cloud computing. Big Data A guide to big data. Enterprise Software A guide to enterprise software (e.g. ERP). Enterprise Architecture Software Why you need a enterprise architecture tool. |
| Architecture | Solution Architecture A guide to solution architecture. |
| Security | Security & Enterprise Architecture Why enterprise architects should care about security. Security Guide Guide to information security. |
| SOA | SOA Overview Understand SOA with one magic diagram. SOA for the Confused A few clarifications. SOA in the Real World Beyond the ideal vision of SOA. SOA Design Patterns 10 SOA design patterns every architect should know. SOA Myths 4 common SOA myths. SOA Marketplace Build your own SOA marketplace. Event Driven Architecture Not your grandmother's SOA. SOA Design Principles 9 principles of SOA design. Big SOA The world's biggest SOA. SOA Failure This is what SOA failure looks like. SOA Security SOA security from 50,000 feet. SOA & Security Why SOA is fundamentally challenging for security professionals. SOA Security Challenges 9 SOA security challenges. SOA Security Implementation How to implement SOA security the easy way. |
| Business | Risk Guide A guide to risk. Quality Guide A guide to quality. Best Practices A guide to business best practices. Business Strategy A guide to business strategy. |
| Management | Management: The Missing Manual A guide to management strategy, methods and techniques. Project Management Guide A comprehensive guide to project management strategies, techniques, methods and careers. |
| Soft Skills | Leadership Guide How to influence, motivate and set direction. Negotiation Guide Negotiating strategies, techniques and skills. Public Speaking Guide How to give magnetic presentations. Soft Skills Guide Soft skills are like hurricanes — they often have wimpy names but they pack a punch. |
What is Enterprise Architecture?
The answer isn't as obvious as you may think.
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Explaining complex business and technical concepts in layman's terms. |
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Think your website is safe from DDoS? Think again. |
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Enterprise Architects must choose their words very carefully. |
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