Enterprise Architecture is Dead
posted by Anna Mar, July 01, 2011The theory of Enterprise Architecture goes something like this:
There are massive gaps between business and IT — fueled by a legacy of tactical solutions, disconnects and politics. Enterprise Architecture is supposed to solve these gaps with a unified approach to business, application, data and technology architecture. Quite a challenge — don't you think?
Managing Complexity
If you're a Enterprise Architect tasked with spanning the gap between business and IT — what do you do?The answer is simple — you stay very high level. This is exactly what most Enterprise Architects do — draw boxes and clouds around things and leave it at that.
The problem with this approach is that Enterprise Architecture gets a reputation for being academic — completely detached from the realities of business, IT execution and political challenges.
The Real Problem
The real problem facing Enterprise Architects is that the gap between business and IT is too great. Enterprise Architecture is mission impossible — it is neither feasible nor desirable for one small group to centrally solve such massive gaps.The Result
Enterprise Architecture teams attract the best and the brightest. Nevertheless, EA teams are often viewed as out-of-touch and unsuccessful.Where EA teams do have success is with tactical improvements in architecture — far from any real success aligning IT and business.
The Key to the Future
Competitive forces will shape businesses of the future in two significant ways:1. Businesses will have longer, more mature planning cycles.
2. Distinctions between business and IT will disappear. Whatever the industry — IT will become the business.
In this context, Enterprise Architecture will have more success. It is not possible for EA to achieve its mission in organizations with short planning cycles and strong separation between business and IT.
|
The following template captures your high level enterprise architecture. |
|
How to architect an organization. |
|
Ever wonder when that hot new technology is going to get cheaper? Learn what really drives technology prices. |
|
IT career management |
Recently on Simplicable
| Cloud Guideposted by John SpaceyA guide to cloud computing including cheat sheets, best practices and metrics. |
| Web Security: Battleships and Locustsposted by Anna MarThere are two types of web security threats: battleships and locusts. |
| Web Security Illustratedposted by John SpaceyHow would you explain web security to your grandmother? |
| The 10 Root Causes Of Security Vulnerabilitesposted by John SpaceyLearn about common root causes of security risks. |
