Introduction to Enterprise Architecture

Study Notes

Enterprise Architecture is a field that helps businesses navigate complex systems and achieve goals effectively.
Similar to town planning or urban design, EA focuses on planning, organizing, and strategizing the various components of a business.
This field has gained popularity in recent years, with its roots dating back to the early days of the information age.
EA involves managing people, regulations, strategies, hardware, software, and technology components as a whole.

Serves as a blueprint for successful IT strategy, leveraging IT advancements for business benefit at an optimized cost.
Evaluates, creates, plans, and implements enterprise analyses to effectively execute company strategies.
Standardizes, organizes, and documents the entire business architecture and its key elements.
Analyzes and identifies changes to proactively adapt to disruptive forces and achieve desired business outcomes.
Provides a comprehensive operational framework that examines all aspects of a company's operations, identifying how technology supports overall objectives.

Developed in the 1960s due to architectural publications on "Business Systems Planning" (BSP) by Professor Dewey Walker.
John Zachman, a student of Walker, contributed to the development of a structured EA format.
Both worked for IBM, where Zachman published the EA framework in 1987 in the IBM Systems Journal.
The framework was created in response to the rise of corporate technology in the 1980s, as computer systems gained significance in workplaces.
Companies recognized the need for a long-term strategy and plan to keep pace with rapid technological advancements.
EA evolved beyond just IT to encompass the entire business.

Assists businesses in adapting to emerging technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, and machine learning.
Facilitates digital transformation by outlining the interplay between information, business, and technology.
Aligns people, data, and technology to ensure a comprehensive view of the organization's capabilities.
Contributes to strategic planning by defining the company's vision, guiding principles, and operational roadmap.
Creates a foundation for efficient decision-making by providing a clear understanding of the business landscape.
Enables businesses to adapt to changes by providing a flexible and adaptable framework that can be adjusted as needed.