The Coherent Architecture
Coherent Architecture is the effort to do the right architecture for the right people on the right area at the right time. The key to do it right is the diagnosis to find out what is the business performance gap under the constant changing environment. It is a common sense that you can not fix the problem you do not know. So, the first step in Coherent Architecture is to measure the business performance and diagnosis the business performance gap before jumping into architecture design. Coherent Architecture diagnosis the business performance gap in a holistic approach to maintain the coherent and balance relation between the parts. In the Organic EA approach, the Coherent Architecture play a major role to add value over the first generation EA. It is a continuous and actionable part of Enterprise Architecture to deliver the stream of value rather than drawing a pie on the sky.Definition
The Coherent Architecture is to measure the performance gap to identify the area of limitation and design the right architecture for the right people on the right place at the right time. It analyze business performance gap, identify the segment of business weakness from the holistic business architecture, strategy planning to close the performance gap, conduct the segment architecture by aligning to the notional Enterprise Architecture, sequence the transition plan and initiate projects to carry out the modernization in time of need via the agility architecture.
1. The generic Coherence Model
Organic EA has developed the Coherent Architecture base on a the coherent concept of design the right architecture to close business performance gap deliver it to the right people on the right place at the right time. As shown in the following diagram. It leverage on the concept of Wu Xing . It is Coherence meta model to adapt change in the right direction and the model suggest a simple and intuitive approach to adpat change in the right direction is to adopt the nature rule which presented by the elemment of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth.
2. The explicit Coherence Model
The generic Coherence model is only a tool of thinking, enterprise must developed their own explicit coherence model based on the rules on the generic coherence model.
3. The Coherence framework
The Coherence framework illustrate the overall relation between all Enterprise Architecture components. Enterprise Architecture is complex system effort. Engineering training alone is not sufficient to overcome the challenge of the complex system of the living enterprise. Much more so, EA is a collaborative effort of performance measurement, business strategic planning, enterprise architecture planning, segment architecture, solution architecture and security. The Coherence architecture is the effort to facilitate the collaboration of all the Enterprise management components for making right business strategy, investment management and design the right solution for the right people on the right place at the right time. It is a performance based enterprise architecture approach.
The Coherence Architecture framework include the Alignment architecture business, application services, information and technology; The Agility architecture of standards and compliance; the Coherent architecture of performance, strategic planning, segment architecture and investment management. Enterprise security on risk management, business continuity and security management are closely related to enterprise architecture.
4. THE COHERENCE ARCHITECTURE APPROACH
As mentioned in the previous section, the Organic EA consist of the static part of principle and primitives and the dynamic part of Coherent Architecture to adapt change by rearranging the fundamental enterprise primitives and building blocks. The area in yellow color illustrate the Coherent Architecture which include the diagnosis part on business performance measurement and gap analysis the other part is the segment architecture to close the business performance gap. It adapt the constant changing world via analyze the business performance gaps and initiate the segment architecture to close the business performance gap as showing in the following diagram.
Enterprise Architecture is the foundation of Coherent Architecture
The Coherent EA leverage on the holistic business architecrue to see the big picture, follow the master plan from notional alingment architecture and enable agility via the agility architecture.
Why EA cares about business performance measurement?
The Coherent Architecture explain why an Enterprise Architect cares about business performance measurement. The US government Federal Enterprise Architecture have put a lot emphasis on business performance measurement and gap analysis and most EA professional only interested on architecture design and wondering why an EA professional cares about business performance measurement.
Enterprise Target Architecture: The Enterprise Target Architecture is notional; it is “miles wide and inches deep” to serve as the master plan when taking advantage of technological innovations. The master plan drives the formulation of the “big picture”.
Business Performance Gap Analysis: Segment Architecture is the practical EA effort to close business performance gaps and drive strategic business planning and investment decisions.
Segment Scope: Business performance gap is the driver to Segmnent architecture. Coherent Architecture define the scope based on the results of the business performance gap analysis.
Segment Architecture: Segment Architecture is the practical EA effort to close business performance gaps under the umbrella of the enterprise master plan. The segment architecture includes the transition plan for strategic business planning and investment decision-making.
Architecture Gap Analysis: In LEA, there are two types of gap analysis; the business performance gap analysis and the architecture gap analysis. The Architecture Gap Analysis analyzes the gaps between the segment architecture and the as-is environment.
Transition Plan: The transition plan provides a timeline for addressing architectural gaps and lays out a transition plan for modernization. Coherent EA leverages the transition plan to facilitate the business community to develop applicable IT strategies, make the right investment decisions, and initiate projects to acquire solutions in time for practical use.
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