The book attempts to answer a few of the most asked Enterprise Architecture (EA) questions. What is the problem and why EA is the solution? What is EA and what is an EA framework? Which are the existing EA frameworks? What is SOA and Business Architecture? What is the BPM, Lean/Six Sigma, ERPs relationship to EA?
A proven EA Framework, the associated metamodel, a novel single page generic Business Architecture and enterprise reference architecture templates for business, people organization, IT applications and infrastructure layers are then provided. The framework looks like a content page showing the components of an EA as placeholders, without actually describing them, but illustrating how they fit into the whole. It enables navigation between business and the technology layers implementing it. Navigation makes possible technology alignment to business operation, change impact analysis and new business models implementation. The templates enable the professional to move straight into own Enterprise description phase rather than waste time on the EA framework determination.
The book then shows how to document and build an Enterprise Architecture: architecture principles, design method, best practices, delivery checklists, EA patterns, development process, tooling and repository, integration to the mundane solution architectures, typical use cases, a simple EA development example, how to measure the EA maturity and value delivered, what are the typical EA triggers and roadblocks and how to build an EA practice, its governance, organization, funding and site.
A strategy specification and enterprise roadmapping process is illustrated in order to identify the future states and the target architecture of the Enterprise.
The Enterprise Architect job description, selection criteria, leadership skills, politics of the job, cultural blocks and how to effectively sell EA are then discussed.
In essence, the book describes all aspects of why and how to build an Enterprise Architecture with emphasis on the fact that EA is more than IT: EA is about documenting and aligning the Enterprise business processes, organization and technology to deliver the strategic intent.