Myth and Legend Busting: What Enterprise Architecture Is Not

Things have started with Betsy Burton. She talked about what EA is and what it is not, but should relate to EA.

She started with a prediction that 55% of EA programs will be stopped in the coming years because they are not perceived as delivering value. In most cases, the EA tells people what they should do and this is not well accepted.

What EA is: a process of creating artifacts - a facilitator - serving business AND IT. It is not only about technology but about bridging the gap between business and IT. It's about enabling change.

When building an EA strategy, it is best to start with the future (desired) state. Starting with the present state tends to cloud or constrain the view on the future.

EA is not, but it is related to (in one way or another):

• A business strategy (which should be known and formalized to build an EA strategy);
  
• IT strategic planning (EA is about the longer term, but EA and IT strategies need to be aligned);
  
• IT governance (EA may help make it better though);
  
• Program management (which requires different skills);
  
• Portfolio management (which provides information to make the right decisions);
  
• BPM (however the processes are included in the entreprise business architecture);
  
• Implementation (EA set guidelines for the implementation: e.g. an SOA initiative should leverage the EA);
  
• Enterprise technology architecture (but the technology application inventory is required for the EA);
  
• Change management (EA creates the context for change management);
  
• Just setting standards (there is a continuum of formal and informal standards);
  
• Enforcement.

70% of the Enterprise Architecture is meant to facilitate communication between people in the enterprise.

Recommendations for an EA team:

• Leverage the business strategy;
• Advise the IS strategic planning;
• Participate in performance management;
• Do not dictate implementation issues;
• Be the coordinating process.
  

By the way, it's raining quite a bit in Cannes, so the sessions are crowded…