Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise Architecture is the formal organization (design or layout) of the components, structures and processes required or relevant to the attainment of the goals and visions invested or envisioned in an enterprise.

Often used in the context of information system's applications in an enterprise, Enterprise Architecture is really concerned with all aspects of an enterprise with information technology as a sub-context.

All organizations are built on some architectural framework or another, even when the choice is not fully conscious, just like every building or city could be said to have been built on some structural architectural framework, even when the choice has not been conscious, like in many developing nations. However, just like modern society now appreciate the value of a conscious structural architectural developmental process; culminating in the study of architecture in many major colleges and trade institutions, so would society benefit from the conscious application of such faculty to enterprise architecture.

At a Digital Government Summit in 2006, a gentleman from CA used the term Empire Architecture to describe the architectural paradigm required for many modern enterprises, which can be considered really as a combination of complex enterprises; and he is right. Modern Corporations, Government and even educational institutions are indeed an amalgam of complex sub-entities often a singular ultimate bottom line, but disparate intermediate business goals and requirements. Modern Enterprise Architecture thus can be viewed beyond the singular enterprise but also from the perspectives of empire architecture.

However, semantics aside, enterprise architectural practice as it is developing  today can support all nature of architectural definitions from single architectures to virtual enterprise architectures and empire architecture. Just like in structural architecture the procedures are essentially the same irrespective of the size or complexity. As a matter of fact, applying the same rigors irrespective of the size is beneficial to an Enterprise Architect who can then leverage lessons learned in one scenario to become better at another.

One problem that faces the the industry though remains the lack of a consistent outlook and the tendency of practitioners to be swayed by the most market-friendly buzzword in place of standardized terminologies which are necessary for a concepts this complex and with such great ramifications for business success. Many continue to use the term solely with software development, when in reality all know it is far beyond software development; just like all know that structural architecture is beyond the walls for a house or more than the trusses for a bridge.

We have developed an architectural framework for information security and will be making public more documentation regarding this framework. We are now working on a project to help harmonized the disparate knowledge and develop a standardized set of frameworks that will incorporate various existing platform for the maximum value to enterprises regardless of size.

For additional information, please send us an email at architect at eissaf dot com.