What is Light EA?
The Light Enterprise Architecture is light compare to the first generation EA which design the enterprise architecture blueprint. The initial EA concept has not being practical to Enterprise need, It requires significant investment of resources and time to design the enterprise blueprint. Essentially, it is an enterprise wide solution architecture to design the enterprise as if it is a jumbo jet or large building complex. This approach overlook the fact that enterprise is organic and the enterprise blueprint become obsolete before the ink dry due the organic nature of constant change. Instead of designing a static enterprise blueprint. Light EA take a light approach to establish a notional Target architecture; establish agility via horizontal architecture and adapt change via Segment Architecture. In addition to the lightness, LEA also address the concern of "Stealth EA". it offer a human centric approach to deliver tangible and visible EA products. LEA recognize that enterprise is organic, It take a holistic approach adapt change and support business strategic planning.Light EA put different architecture into perspective. For the purpose to facilitate business in taking advantage of technology evolution, the industry have developed many different architecture approach which range from solution architecture, enterprise architecture, reference architecture, service oriented architecture and segment architecture. Although, all the different architecture approach tend to address the same goal for the business community to take advantage of technology evolution in an agile and simple manner. However, each architecture approach have embraced their own approach. Not to mention the difference between different architecture approach, Even under the name of EA, there are many different EA definition as show in the collection of Enterprise Architecture Definition. . The cloud of different architecture approach have also contributed significant architecture myth such as: enterprise architecture as a large scale solution approach; SOA to replace EA; Segment Architecture without Enterprise master plan.
Holistic Inspiration for Organic System
Enterprise is organic and the are significant limitation to architecture an organic Enterprise under the classical ontological approach. enterprise is a complex adaptive system that encompasses more than one theoretical framework and is highly interdisciplinary. In the twentieth century, under the evolution of quantum mechanic, the classic physic has undergone major supplementation and transformation. Field were added to particle model, and particle and fields have become aspects of an perplexing physical reality. The straightforward mechanical causality that was part of the earlier atomic model was replaced by indeterminacy and statistical causality in quantum theory. Modern physic is evolving toward or rediscovering a holistic physic as described in the flowing research;
. Val Dusek, "The Holistic Inspiration of Physics: The Underground History of Electromagnetic Theory" The work is largely on the research of specializes scholars in Chinese, Renaissance and German studies, and the history of early modern science. The reader can get a struck by fact that the Chinese, hermetic, and Romantic alternative sciences all made important contribution to the prehistory of field theory, and the common features of these approaches contributed to an important part of contemporary physics.
. Nick Herbert, "Holistic Physics or an introduction to quantum tantra" Will the bizarre quantum world forever exist as the private preserve of mathematicians and experimental physicists, or might ordinary people someday gain access to its fabled realms? Recent research into quantum theory's philosophical dimensions suggests that fundamental quantum research may someday return to a human scale and allow every human being, no matter what their academic credentials, to take part in the quantum adventure, joining with physicists and mathematicians in an egalitarian adventure I call holistic physics. Holistic physics could open up a third front of quantum research on the scale of ordinary experience with inexpensive equipment, which would complement conventional quantum research on the cosmological and elementary particle scales, a third front made possible by the very reality problem that so distressed Einstein and other early quantum physicists.
. William day, "The New Physic". The author shows that there is another physics that is more appropriate than dynamics for describing the nature of matter and the composition of the universe. He contends that there is a three-stage hierarchy: particles, atoms, gravitational systems, all patterned on motion. A model is given for particles based on the principles of the new physics that is considerably simpler and more plausible than the quarks model.
Definition
Light Enterprise Architecture enable business community to take advantage of technology evolution. It serve both business and engineering community with human centric, light and holistic approach to overcome the challenge of silos system, adapt change and support business strategic direction. LEA see the enterprise big picture with enterprise topology; Decomposition the enterprise with business architecture; Align technology to business need with notional target architecture; Enable agility with horizontal architecture; Close business performance gap to adapt change with segment architecture.
It include the enterprise architecture to see the whole; Top down Alignment architecture to facilitate business community in taking advantage to modern solution; Cross cutting Agility architecture to enable agility; Iterative Coherent Architecture to deliver the right architecture for the right people on the right place at the right time.
1. The Light EA Model
On top of the model, LEA propose the Coherent Architecture to deliver the right architecture to the right people on the right place at the right time. It is a continuous effort to adapt change via initiate segment architecture to close business performance gaps. The Coherent EA is based on the foundation of a holistic business architecture with the support of the vertical alignment architecture and the horizontal agility architecture.
The horizontal architecture approach enable agility via learning experience of others and keeping it simple via encapsulate complexity. Reference model to learn the right experience of others, The horizontal architecture is not only the engineering of reuse and consolidation but also the political process to establish and enforce standards.
Enterprise Architecture is not all about information technology.The same horizontal architecture approach also applicable to business process, human resources, and security. An organization ride on business processes, human resources, information technology and security to reach their business mission. LEA suggest to establish Enterprise agility not only on information technology but also business process, human resources and security.
LEA adapt change via holistic alignment architecture, agility architecture and Coherent architecture as shown in the following figure. It adopt the Yin-Yang symbol from the The book of changes to represent the constant changing world.
2. To see the Enterprise
In Enterprise Architecture, one must be able to see the enterprise so that they can improve on how to take advantage of technology evolution. It is an effort to see the unseen big picture because Enterprise is logical and invisible. In the metaphor of blind man and elephant, collaboration and reconciliation is the only way to see the unseen elephant.
. Stovepipe systems are created become of enterprise is invisible.
. The architecture community can not measure the invisible parts not mention to improve the parts.
. It is difficult for business community to plan the future without enterprise visibility.
2.1 Business Architecture to analyz the enterprise structure
3. Address the complex system with vertical, horizontal and circular approach
Enterprsie is organic, It is a complex adaptive system as defined in the cynefin framework. The Examples of complex adaptive systems include the stock market, the ecosystem, manufacturing businesses and any group-based cultural/social endeavors, such as political parties or communities. A complex adaptive system encompasses more than one theoretical framework and is highly interdisciplinary. Light Enterprise Architecture helps organizations formulate educated business strategies, make sound investments, and deliver the right solutions -- to the right people, at the right times, and to the right places. Light EA adress the complex system with the vertical Alignment architecture, the horizontal Agility architecture and the circular Coherent Architecture as shown in the following figure.
Alignment Architecture:, which is better known as The notional target architecture, align information solution to business need in a top down approach. It is the vertical Alignment Architecture.
Agility Architecture , which beater known as the The services oriented architecture looks for the commonality, establish standards and established common services in a cross cutting (horizontal) approach, It is the horizontal Agility architecture.
The Coherent Architecture, which is better know as segment architecture , is initiated to closed business performance gaps in time of need. It is coherence architecture to enable business prosperity coherently. It is the circular coherent architecture.
LEA Framework put different architecture approach into perspective
Instead of embrace a specific architecture approach to facilitate the business on taking advantage of technology evolution, LEA value the variety of architecture approach and establish a framework to put all the different architecture approach in perspective.
Light Enterprise Architecture attempts to elevate EA out of the shadow of solution architecture by treating the enterprise as a complex adaptive system. It embraces change via Enterprise business architecture, enables the business community to take advantage of technology advancements via vertical alignment architecture, and establishes enterprise primitives via horizontal agility architecture.
on the based that
. All the different architecture approach have the same goal to take advantage of technology evolution.
.All the architecture methods are the only the means to achieve the goal.
. the truth is none of the individual approach can achieve the goal alone.
The following holistic framework describe the subject area of Light Enterprise Architecture.
On the based of holistic framework, the following figure put the different architecture parts into perspective and illustrate how different architecture approach can work together holistically.
LEA put different architecture approach into perspective
6. Measure business performance gap via Coherence analysis
In the mechanic paradigm, performance gap is measured with a static metric. However, in a organic paradigm, the performance measurement is not only against a metric but also about equilibrium. LEA adopt the Wu Xing model to measure the performance via equilibrium. For example:
7. Adapt change with Agile Segment Architecture
It suggest the initial EA for the purpose of holistic and operate EA via Operational EA to adapt the constant changing Enterprise.
After the initial EA, the major effort of EA is shift to Segment Architecture which is a sub-set of EA to address the dynamic change of business. For EA to be practical, the notional enterprise architecture is only elaborated in the area of business rather than design the entire enterprise in a big-bang approach base on the architects ideology. Segment Architecture is incremental and continuous. On contrary to the holistic and notional target enterprise architecture , segment architecture is executable which support gap analysis, transition plan and modernization.
8.The Light EA Method
Following the definition, the structure, the model, one more thing to explain "what is Organic EA?" is the Road map to show the flow of Organic EA components. The bottom line is the methodology rather than theory and models. The following figure illustrate the Organic EA method by showing that Organic EA methodology include the planning phase, the holistic phase, the agility phase and coherent phase.
The planing phase include the activities of planning, organization, funding and governance structure and processes.
The holistic business architecture phase is an holistic phase to see the true whole via Enterprise topology, analyze business architecture and align the application, data, technologies and security under the umbrella of the whole.
The Alignment architecture phase is a vertical alignment for business to take advantage of technology evolution.
The agility phase is a horizontal architecture phase to look for commonality among the vertical architecture. It learn the right experiences of the others via reference models and reference architecture from the same line of business. Planing for reuse and consolidation via standardization and compliance to standards.
The Coherent phase is the organic part of EA. It is the effort to deliver the right architecture for stakeholder need in adapting change. It identify the business performance gaps, prepare strategic planning, identify the scope segment architecture to close the gaps, lay out transition plan and initiate projects to develop the solution.
Planning phase :
1. Buy-in from senior management
2. Obtain EA management resources
3. Establish Management Structure
4. Establish EA infrastructure to leverage on automation.
5. Initiate EA management processes
Initial EA
1. Prepare the EA map to see the big picture and know the enterprise.
2. Facilitate EA collaboration.
3. Apply architecture principle to analyze Business Architecture.
4. Adopt basic EA standards, building blocks and common resources.
5. High level target solution architecture
6. Continue to evolve governance and compliance processes.
7. Deliver EA value to initiate EA culture.
EA operation is incremental and continuous
1. Continue to maintain EA standards
2. Annual IT strategic planning close performance gap.
3. Identify segment architecture to ellaborate enterprise target architecture and consolidate common resources.
4. Capital investment review
5. Initiate projects.
6. Project compliance review
7. Conduct EA self assessment
8. Continue to Improve governance and compliance processes
9. Make transition from stovepipe culture to EA culture.
4. Notional Time line
Organic EA is a continuous effort to adapt the constant changing world. The time line describe holistic enterprise business architecture and notional alignment architecture.
^ TOP
LEA is analogy to city planning
2.1 City PlanningCity planning has been an ancient civilization practice. From Wikipedia : “ By 2600 BC, some Harappan settlements of the Indus Valley civilization had grown into cities containing thousands of people. Some of these cities appear to have been built based on a well-developed plan. The streets of major cities such as Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were paved and were laid out at right angles (and aligned north, south, east or west) in a grid pattern with a hierarchy of streets (commercial boulevards to small residential alleyways), somewhat comparable to that of present day New York.”
City planning is the effort for people to collaborate in the community like the Greek colonies where new laws, new constitutions, new systems of land tenure and the like were drawn up at the outset, and the city and citizen body laid out and organized taking future expansion into consideration. [Cahill 2002].
2.2 The industry have analogy EA to city planning
Ira Morrow from the Gartner group suggest a new approach to Enterprise Architecture : “City Plan” [Morrow] in 1996. Roy Schulte from Gartner group also stated that Enterprise Architecture is the IT ‘City Planning’[Schulte, 2002] . Since then, there many articles analogy EA to city planning. A google search on the internet produce the following list :
Phil Windley's Technometria | September 10, 2003 The Danish government's white paper on enterprise architecture makes the first analogy in Chapter 4. In it, the work of city planning is divided into three ...
Enterprise architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Enterprise Architecture requires appropriate positioning in the organization to be successful. One such analogy of city-planning is often referenced for ...
CIO - City Planning: a Metaphor for Enterprise Architecture Enterprise architecture or city planning? "City planning" is an easily understood metaphor that architects can employ to communicate more effectively the ...
NIH Enterprise Architecture - What is enterprise architecture? An Analogy to City Planning. You can relate enterprise architecture to the more widely understood concept of city planning. In city planning, zones are ...
2.3 The business model of city planning
City planning and civil engineering has been the historical solution to overcome the challenge of architecture buy-in from the stakeholders. It is all about people. City planning include the following functions :
• Geographical survey to establish the city topology.
• Establish the common infrastructure such as road, bridge, sewer, water.
• Establish the common blocks.
• Overcome buy-in from the stakeholder by achieve consensus with political processes.
Most of the EA analogy to city planning has overlooked the role to geographical survey in city planning and civil engineering. Although it is critical to the architects and engineers, the imporatnce of Geographical survey is rather transparent to the common stakeholders.
The Real life example using HACEA
CEA is modeled from city planning which is actually the real life example of CEA. Many EA professional have already analogy EA to city planning. The entire ideal of CEA also adopt the traditional city planning approach for EA in the information age. If it looks like and duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. I would say city planning is the real life example of CEA as explained in the following paragraph.
The city is organic A city is organic which take the time dimension into account and grow gradually based on a city plan. A city is developed based on business vision which consider as the business architecture but not explicit in the city planning approach. Business architecture become explicit in the information age where introduce significant logical architecture in addition to physical architecture.
City plan for holistic
City manager use city plan to see the holistic city. a city use a city plan to lay out different zone, land use, street and location for public facility bases on planed business vision (The business architecture).
Establish the City infrastructure to enable business agility
City infrastructure and services are the Agility architecture, Each business and houses are unique to individual need and requires different solution.. A city provide the city infrastructure and services but not design every business building. It provide the common infrastructure and services to enable agile business solution such as commercial and residential building in different city zoning area. Business people and city residents leverage on the city infrastructure and services to establish their house and business without the effort to build road and water and other service. Without the city infrastructure and services, it will take much more significant effort to live and run a business. In the same way, Enterprise Architecture provide common services in the horizontal direction to enable agile business solution to support specific and unique need as shown in the following :
A city is continuously improved segment by segment.
For the practical purpose, a city is developed in by segments rather than design the city in a big bang approach. A segment is defined based on business need and the projection of population growth. Enterprise Architecture has also evolved to the same direction for the same reason. the segment architecture is partitioned purely based on business performance gap analysis. A city is developed and improved gradually and continuously in a segment by segment approach based the business demand and the growth of population. It is not based on the similar engineering category such design and contracture all the road by the city without considering business need. The area of a segment is purely defined by business need to closed the business performance gaps during the continuous change in the time dimension.
Performance Architecture As said a segment is partitioned purely based on business performance gap analysis during the continuous change in the time dimension. It is essential for EA to establish the capability in the business performance gap analysis. CEA suggest the enterprise performance architecture approach in terms how to establish the performance goal in reflecting the stakeholder’s demand in the continuous changing world and establish the key performance indicator, measurement points in a systematical approach.
2.4 Enterprise is an information city
In the information age, each organization is considered as a information city which is a people oriented community where people share the business process solution, application services , common data resources over the information highway regulated by information security over common platform and storage.
2.5 Enterprise Architecture is the information city planning
This article suggests that EA is not only analogy to city planning, it sounds like a duck, walk like a duck therefore it is a duck therefore EA is the information city planning. The concept of EA as information city planning is not new. In the past, people has information landscape, information highway, information environment to describe the need of holistic planning and solution.
The following table illustrate the similarity between City Planning and Enterprise Architecture.
Read More → ^ TOP