FAQ – What is “True-EA”?

True Enterprise Architecture (True-EA) is quite simply architecting the enterprise.  The overwhelming majority of EA efforts that we have come in contact with over the last two decades have, in fact, been IT Enterprise Architecture (IT-EA) efforts.  They have been led and operated by IT professionals working within the CIO/CTO’s organization, with a focus on … Read more

FAQ – Do organizations really practice “True-EA”?

During the past couple years, we have begun working with clients where the efforts of IT-centric business and information architecture efforts have been sponsored and eventually taken over by representatives of senior leadership outside of the IT organization.  While still a minority of the companies we deal with, it is a positive trend, driven by … Read more

True-IA? A True-EA Perspective for Information Architecture

Lately, there has been a lot of focus on business architecture within the EA community.  We would like to expand the thinking of business architecture to include the element of information.  Traditionally the focus of many IT shops has been in the delivery and enhancement of information systems that automated manual business processes.  However, over time, … Read more

DAMA DMBOK Offers Good Guidance for Information Management

The Data Management Association (DAMA) International is a prominent association for data management professionals.  They have accumulated and published a Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) and a Dictionary of Terms.  For those struggling with establishing or improving their Information Management (IM) capabilities, DAMA offers some guidance that can help simplify and organize your efforts. The … Read more

What is True-EA?

True Enterprise Architecture (True-EA) is quite simply architecting the enterprise. “Isn’t this what Enterprise Architecture always has been?” you may be asking yourself. In actuality, the overwhelming majority of EA efforts that we have come in contact with over the last two decades have, in fact, been IT Enterprise Architecture (IT-EA) efforts. Tim Westbrock and … Read more

Getting Started with Enterprise Business Architecture

Many enterprise architecture (EA) groups struggle with affecting change in the ongoing activities and existing project portfolio that demonstrably moves the enterprise toward the future state business strategy.  One of the reasons is a lack of understanding of business strategy, process, information and operations from the perspective of business executives.  Some EA groups are beginning … Read more

Too Much Tactical Focus with Business Architecture?

As more and more organizations embrace Enterprise Architecture with a concerted effort in Business Architecture (BA),. we are beginning to see one of the common pitfalls of IT Architecture (ITA) spill over — too much focus on the tactical, project level.  Apparently, getting business representatives involved in applying EA discipline to the business architecture does … Read more

Using MIT CISR’s Operating Model to Drive BA Design

I have recently been working with a company that is getting their enterprise business architecture effort under way very successfully. One of the most successful aspects of their effort has been leveraging the operating model concept from “Enterprise Architecture As Strategy” by Dr. Jeanne Ross and others from the MIT Center for Information Systems Research (CISR). … Read more