Enterprise Architecture
Definition of Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise Architecture is a practice undertaken by organizations to successfully develop and implement strategy through an institutional analysis that establishes an institutional map to achieve the organization’s mission and vision through the optimal implementation of core processes and the efficient operation of supporting information technology. It ensures that businesses within organizations are aligned with digital transformation strategies and accelerated technical growth.
Importance of Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise Architecture is particularly useful for organizations undergoing digital transformation. Enterprise architecture outputs are used to design enterprise transformation projects and analyze and manage the consequences of change. This process helps achieve the organization’s strategic goals by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of using technical and human resources.
Definition of Enterprise Architecture
Enterprise Architecture is the practice of analyzing, planning, and designing business and information technology components in an integrated and comprehensive manner to achieve the organization’s vision and strategy. Global frameworks and methodologies are employed to design, plan, and implement integrated and comprehensive models for all business components, that help unify and organize the IT infrastructure to align with business objectives.
The Origins and History of Enterprise Architecture
The evolution of enterprise architecture has gone through three distinct phases:
- Pre-enterprise architecture: began in the 1960s with the development of architectural blueprints for planning business systems.
- Early stage: from the 1980s to the 1990s, when John Zachman helped formulate and organize enterprise architecture studies.
- Modern stage: began in the late 1990s with the emergence of frameworks such as TOGAF and FEAF.
Benefits of enterprise architecture
- Improved collaboration: between IT and other business units.
- Prioritizing investments: based on return on investment.
- Supporting successful development: for organizations and companies.
- Comprehensive view: for IT and all business units.
- Reference framework: To compare results with other organizations and standards.
Enterprise architecture frameworks and methodologies
- TOGAF: offers an approach to designing, planning, implementing, and governing IT architecture, and helps create a unified approach to enterprise architecture.
- Zachman framework: Provides a basic structure for defining and presenting the organization in a structured manner.
- National Enterprise Architecture Approach (NORA): Assists government agencies in developing an enterprise architecture, simply and by stages and steps that ensure good governance in implementation.
- Federal Architectural Framework (FEAF): Helps government agencies organize investment in information technology.
Enterprise Architecture Implementation
Guidance Consulting and Training Company provides many services that help organizations implement enterprise architecture, including establishing and operating the enterprise architecture office, implementing the National Enterprise Architecture Approach, and assessing maturity levels in frameworks such as TOGAF and Zackman.