Enterprise Architecture

What is Enterprise Architecture?

• The description of an enterprise as a system in terms of its components, their inter-relationships, and the principles and guidelines governing the design and its evolution
• The description is usually done to identify gaps between the current state and a desired future state
• This design provides a roadmap for the organization to achieve its goals and deliver its objectives
• Enterprise Architecture Is often described at multiple levels of breadth and depth
• At its most effective, Enterprise Architecture enables effective execution of an organization's strategy
• IT Architecture is a major enabling component of an Enterprise Architecture

Why do I need Enterprise Architecture?

• Effective management and exploitation of information is key to business success and competitive advantage
• A good Enterprise Architecture optimises the (fragmented) legacy of processes (manual and automated) to an integrated environment
• Response to change
• Supports delivery of the business strategy
• Enables the right balance between IT efficiency and business innovation

Business Drivers for Enterprise Architecture

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Integrating cultures of disparate organizations
• Getting People to work together (more) effectively
• Increasing profitability
• Compliance with Government regulations - cost effectively
• Improving return on investment
• Managing operational costs through "right-sizing"
• Better utilization of IT resources and assets
• Changing business environment
• Leverage new technology
• Responding to new markets and business opportunities

Benefits of Enterprise Architecture

• Alignment with the company's Business Model and Strategy
• Information Systems and technology fully support your business
• Continuous business evolution and improved quality of work output
• Improved business flexibility delivered via a clear framework, defined structure, and standards
• Reduced time to market
• Better return on existing investment and reduced risk for future investment
• Bring functions together to share skills, experience and knowledge
• Better asset utilization
• Better assess the impact of changes
• Provide cost effective IT infrastructure leading to a more efficient IT operation
• Enable business changes, technologically based business opportunities and innovation
• Facilitate the introduction of new technologies
• Allow standardization
• Facilitate outsourcing if required
• Information (or data) consolidation
• Reduce enterprise/application integration complexity
• Faster, simpler and cheaper procurement