A. What is Enterprise Architecture?
Describes EA as a conceptual blueprint. Its intent to to effectively achieve current and future objectives. Outlines four points of view: business perspective, application perspective, information perspective, and technology perspective. 1. Business perspective - day-to-day business operation 2. Application perspective - interactions among processes and standards within the organization 3. Information perspective - defines and classifies raw data required to efficiently operate 4. Technology perspective - defines hardware, operating systems, programming, and network solutions Some advantages of an EA are: improved decision making and adaptability of business, eliminating redundant systems, optimizing assets, and lessening employee turnover. B. How to Explain Enterprise Architecture to Your Grandmother This article explains that effective communication skills are key in any business. Some common communication problems are: jumping into low level detail with no context, using obscure proprietary terminology, and insensitivity to audience feedback. One way to get around these problems is to explain technical answers as if you are talking to your grandmother, aka layman’s terms. Enterprise Architects also try to simplify terms so everyone can understand them. When technical terms are used, they should “think-out” the explanation so that the other parties can follow their logic. For any grandmothers reading this: An Enterprise Architect is like a city planner. A city planner job involves setting building codes and plans for road, water, and other services. Enterprise Architects do this using technology. C. Thriving on Change: Thriving on Gap Analysis A brief video explanation gap analysis. The diagram showing the starting point (Current State) and ending point (Future State). It helps map out who is responsible for which tasks. The Desired Outcome is the goal that the enterprise is working toward. A roadmap is needed to help move from the starting to ending point. Good leaders continuously remind staff about the Future State, point ahead to those goals, and help staff reach those goals. D. What is Enterprise Architecture? In under 10 minutes, “Julian Cox gives a comprehensive introduction into the world of Enterprise Architecture: what it is, how it's defined, and how it has grown to be an essential part of the modern day business.” He defines an enterprise as any organization - business, charity, government department, etc. It can be a collection of sub-organizations with shared objectives. Architecture is a description of its components (structure) and processes (behavior). Enterprise Architecture is the documentation of components and processes. Also, planning changes to improve the enterprise’s integrity and flexibility. There are various EA frameworks. Frameworks describe content (structure), processes (activities), and organization (people and roles). The TOGAF framework covers all three of these areas. Zachman only covers content. One way to simplify EA is to break an organization into either segments or domains. Most EA frameworks break an organization into four domains: Business Architecture, Data Architecture, Applications, and Infrastructure. Business Architecture covers businesses’ objectives, goals, capabilities, processes, etc. The Data or Information Architecture domain overs information. Applications domain focuses on Information Technology applications, which use the business data. Infrastructure or Technical domain covers platforms and software. These all have overlaps. Some businesses create additional domains, like compliance and security, if these are particularly important for them. Business architects first describe the baseline or current status. Then, they describe a strategic vision or future target (3-5 years). In between, they will set intermediate goals and identify gaps. Then they create plans to address the gaps. Architects are not responsible to perform the changes, rather they oversee/govern the changes. Resources What is enterprise architecture (EA)? - Definition from WhatIs.com. (2001, June). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/enterprise-architecture How to Explain Enterprise Architecture To Your Grandmother. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://simplicable.com/new/how-to-explain-enterprise-architecture-to-your-grandmother M. (2015). Thriving on Change: Creating A Gap Analysis. Retrieved April 9, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3m_yWAbSk What is Enterprise Architecture? (2014, January 24). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from https://youtu.be/V5Xisag6aN8
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AuthorPassionate Adult ESL Instructor and TOSA at Grossmont Adult School. Former Adjunct at San Diego Community College District. Seeking the best ways to utilize technology in the classroom and in professional life. Archives
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