Notes

Outline

Coherent EA and Segment Architecture Present to The Association of Enterprise Architects , DC By John Chi-Zong Wu August 13 , 2008 WWW.CoherentEA.com Peaitce@yahoo.com

Purpose of presentation The presentation goal : Suggest the Coherent Enterprise Architecture method to build consensus on EA definition. Establish the future direction of EA. Scope of presentation : The CEA Model (Why) The CEA framework (What) The CEA approach (How) Segment Architecture

The Definition of Coherent EA Webster's definition of an architecture is "an orderly arrangement of parts." Coherent is “having a natural or due agreement of parts; harmonious: a coherent design.” Coherent EA  is defined as “ CEA is the coherence between Business Architecture, Alignment Architecture and Agility Architecture. It is an incremental and continuous effort to architect  Enterprise businesses, align solution to business and enable Agility to manage change in time of need.”

The future EA direction EA has not evolved as expected due to lack of consensus on EA definition. CEA builds consensus on EA definition by putting the Business Architecture, System Architecture, Agility Architecture, Strategic Planning and Segment Architecture into the proper aspect. EA is the coherent effort of different EA directions with proper level of effort instead of  business centric or Information Technology centric.

1. The CEA model The CEA model illustrate the concept of CEA which consist of Business Architecture (X), Alignment Architecture (Y) and Agility Architecture (Z). Segment Architecture carry out EA in a incremental and continuous manner to closed business performance gaps.

1.1  Distinguish EA from SA Enterprise Architecture (EA) has a very different characteristic from System Architecture (SA) as shown in the following table.

1.2 Enterprise is not static Amoeba keeps changing to find food,  Enterprise also keeps evolving to win competitive edge. It is futile to design EA in a big bang approach which become obsolete before the ink dry. Enterprise Architecture is to architect with holistic consideration rather design the big house for enterprise. Enterprise Architects must understand the nature of changing in an Enterprise while applying architecture principle to business.

1.3 Agility Architecture to manage change Agility Architecture which align services to business need, is the effort to manage change in time of need. It covers the engineering of reuse and consolidation via reference models, service oriented architecture (SOA) and reference architecture. Traditional EA approach embed the design of agility in term of reuse as the sidekick of EA. CEA incorporate the architecture of agility as one the three pillar of EA.

2 The CEA Framework CEA Framework is  derived form the CEA model. It lay out the attributes and structure of business architecture, Alignment Architecture and Agility Architecture. Leverage on the traditional Enterprise Architecture framework. Introduce the Architecture of Agility. The following slides elaborate each dimension.

2.1 Business Architecture(X ) Business Architecture to see the big picture, know the enterprise and transform the business. Define the enterprise from mission, function information, organization, location and  performance requirement . Business architecture analyze the relation and structure of enterprise attributes. Business processes provide the process solution to Enterprise mission. Business performance gap analysis is part of Business Architecture effort.

2.2 Alignment Architecture (Y) Alignment architecture is the effort to align IT solution with  business need . Align Business processes to business. Align Application to business. Align Data to business. Align Technology to business.

2.3 Agility Architecture (Z) Agility architecture enable agility by learning from the same line of business. Enable agility via cross-cutting solution. Cross-cutting solution via the engineering of reuse and consolidation. Stakeholders comply with standards to earn agility.

3 The CEA  Approach  Framework

3.1  The profile of Enterprise Change Enterprise change at different level. Similar to water flow in a open channel. The high level target EA remain steady similar to a city plan. The segment EA, respond to business performance gaps, change incrementally and gradually. The solution architecture change rapidly due to the rapid technology evolution. Agility Architecture to establish the building blocks which  change slowly.

3.2  The CEA  Approach CEA approach is based on the profile of enterprise change. Develop the notional Enterprise Target Architecture Enable agility and simplicity via learning experiences from the same line of business. Business performance gap analysis is a continuous effort. Segment architecture to elaborate the notional target architecture and close business performance gaps.

3.3 Target Architecture is notional Enterprise Target Architecture is notional as the high level  master plan for the enterprise rather than the enterprise architecture blueprint. Analogy to a city plan, it is the fundamental principle for the Enterprise. The notional Enterprise Target Architecture consist of the conceptual business architecture, data architecture and application architecture.

3.4 Enable agility and simplicity Enable agility and simplicity via establishing common services as shown in the following figure. Agility increase with the level of common services. Establish common services by learning experiences from the same line of business.

4.0 Segment Architecture to carry out CEA

4.1 To close business performance gaps Segment Architectures are initiated to close business performance gaps. It is not an effort of architecture convenience to put similar effort together in a  “Birds of the same feather” approach. Enterprise analyze performance gap continuously. The 1993 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requires performance based strategic planning.

4.2  The analogy of a segment in a city

4.3 The OMB Segment Architecture The following figure from OMB FEAPMO illustrate the relation between enterprise architecture, segment architecture and solution architecture.