Segment Architecture
Segment architecture is the practical aspect of EA. It is a architecture plan with the detail to support gap analysis for the purpose of transition planning.The segment architecture is not only for architecture optimization but also a process to minimize redundant effort.
It is a continuous effort.
4.8 Segment Architecture to implement EA
Segment architecture is the EA effort based on business need to close the business performance gap. Instead of tradition big-bang approach, CEA consist of the initial EA and the segment architecture where the initial EA identify the holistic environment and the segment architecture implement EA based on business need. It is an continuous and incremental Enterprise Architecture effort to provide common services in the segment areas and contribute the services to enterprise wide demand.
Segment Architecture is a subset of enterprise architecture. It is a effort to architect for the right organization at the right area in the right time to deliver EA value. The segment architecture is initiated to close business performance gaps by designing the executable target architecture, identify exiting environment, analyze architecture gaps, prepare the transition plan, make investment decision and initiates projects. It is analogy to a segment of a city.
Figure 10: The Segment Architecture
Segment architecture is business driven rather than engineering driven Segment architecture is business driven to close the business performance gap rather than engineering driven to design the same line of architecture in a “bird of the same feather approach”. A segment is an area of enterprise which is mapped based on enterprise performance gaps. In analogy to city planning, a city government improve an area of the city based on business and population growth rather than base on the engineering category of roads, water or sewer.
Segment is not the LOB architecture or the reference architecture.
Segment architecture can be easily confused with LOB architecture or reference architecture from the engineering aspect which does not help much in the effort to integrate the power of business and engineering.
Segment architecture must align to the enterprise master plan. The risk of segment architecture is to create larger stove pipe without a holistic enterprise environment. It is the paradox of holistic and compartmentalization. Enterprise architecture is a holistic architecture approach to look at the whole. On the hand, EA must also provide continuous and incremental value to business stakeholder to integrate the power of business and engineering.
Segment architecture is executable, it elaborate the notional enterprise architecture in know the business, align the segment target architecture, leverage on agility architecture, conduct gap analysis, plan for transition and implement the segment architecture to establish the common services. On the other hand, the enterprise target architecture is not executable, it only provide the high level and notional architecture direction.
To deliver holitic architecture to right area in time of need.
A subset of Enterprise Architecture As a executable subset of the enterprise architecture, segment architecture aligns to the principle of enterprise architecture and flow the enterprise architecture standards to be a part the holistic enterprise architecture.
Segment is initiated from business consideration. It usually contains many line of business rather the similar line of business. Segment Architecture elaborate the enterprise architecture for common needs in the area of business weakness. The analogy is the small bird also have the same function a large bird do. A segment contains many lines of business rather than the same line of business. It is a mater of large universe and small universe.
Do not confuse with reference architecture or LOB architecture. It is initiated from the business aspect rather than from engineering aspect. For example: A city would not build all the roads in the city without thinking about the area of need. It is not the engineering effort to design the same category of architecture.
Do not confuse with solution architecture
Segment Architecture Approach :
.Continuos strategic planning to identify business peformance gaps.
.Identify segment area base on business performance gaps.
.Idenfity stakeholders.
.Survey existing enviroment in the segment area.
.Comprehend the holistic enterprise architecture.
.Design the segment target architecture base on the holistic plan.
.Conduct architecture gap analysis.
.Prepare transition plan.
.Capital investment management.
.Initiate projects.
.Projectlife cycle managment.
.Modernization.
.Architecture performance assessment.
Pleas read the Segment Architecture Section for more detail. ^ TOP