Strategic Enterprise Architecture Planning Helps Prevent Misaligned Business Goals

Enterprise Architecture concerns itself with the strategic implementation of a company’s business goals.

Graphic descriptions of an organization help identify what work is done and the business processes within which they are implemented.

Information Technology is an Integral Part of Business Strategy

All modern large-scale organizations depend on information technology to cope with their information and data storage needs. However, information systems have to function within the larger business goals and strategies of the organization. Information technology systems and business enterprises have to run parallel and complement each other. Architecture and strategic planning ensures that information systems do not operate in a vacuum.

Enterprise Architecture describes an organization’s processes, information processes and personnel and other organizational subunits aligned with the organization’s core goals and strategies. Enterprise Architects concern themselves with the strategic implementation of a company’s business goals. The graphic description of an organization helps in identifying what work is done and the business processes within which they are implemented. One example of this in Enterprise Architecture is the Zachman Framework.

They are directly concerned with the process of business optimization and performance management.

The reason these professions are gaining importance is because they make sure business strategy and information systems go hand in hand.

While Enterprise Architecture (EA) defines what needs to be done, planning defines when Enterprise Architecture Frameworks will be implemented.

Enterprise Architecture planning is the process of defining architecture for the use of information in support of the business and the plan for implementing them.

In a top-down approach, EA approaches the business processes plan, develops the IT plan or the applications plan and a plans to better align business with IT, called a functional plan. Planning EA is critical to a company’s performance.

It can benefit an organization in several ways: identifies gaps between baseline and targeted states and recommends a sequencing plan to bridge the gap, helps in information sharing across the board and helps to track performance and minimize overall costs.

Enterprise Architectures Have Life Cycles

An Enterprise Architecture Life Cycle (EALC) is the basic planning format applied to Enterprise Architecture and strategic planning. Within an EALC, different activities in the project are implemented in a timely and effective manner.

There are several activities involved in Enterprise planning.

• First is to envision and define the scope of the architecture environment.

• Second is to identify key stakeholders.

• Third is to create a business case for systems and finally to create the project and

• evaluate and maintain it.

The various steps in an EALC are:

• EA Development

• Portfolio Management

• Project Management

• Solution Delivery and

• Organization Change Management.

These are the broad areas that must be looked into in order that Enterprise Architecture and system development go hand in hand.

Enterprise Architecture And Systems Development Ensure Mutual Coexistence

All large companies plan, develop, test, and install software systems to rely on their information and data needs. A system is essentially a set of processes by which an organization achieves its objectives. No system functions in a vacuum. They coexist with numerous other systems in an organization.

Enterprise Architecture and system development is concerned with the fact that every system in an enterprise must not only fit in, but should also reflect the strategy and vision of the business.

Within an Enterprise Architecture life cycle, a given application must be developed so as to take advantage of a shared infrastructure. It should not adversely affect other systems in an organization.