How to build and improve an enterprise architecture practice?

January 2007Martin van den Berg

Agenda

� DYA®

� Building an Enterprise Architecture Practice with DYA®

Dynamic Architecture (DYA®)

� Sogeti’s vision how to work with architecture in an organization

� Based on experiences in the field� Main principles:

Architecture is an ongoing process Architecture facilitates change Just enough, just in time architecture Deviations from the architecture are allowed, but in a controlled

way The architecture process is as important as the architecture

products

This results in:• More mature architecture practice• Better Business – IT alignment• Better architecture – project alignment• More agility

Architecture defined

Architecture framework

Business objectives

Businessarchitecture

Technicalarchitecture

Informationarchitecture

Generalprinciples

Policy directives

Models

Prod/service

Process Orga-nization

DataAppli-cation

Middle-ware

Plat-form

Net-work

Question (red and green cards!)

Are you satisfied with your current architecture framework?

Red = NoGreen = Yes

DYA®

DYAprocesses

StrategicDialogue

NewDevelopments Development

withArchitecture

Businesssolutions

Developmentwithout

Architecture

Business solutions

ArchitecturalServices

Governance

Dynamic ArchitectureBusiness

architectureInformationarchitecture

Technicalarchitecture

Instruments

DYAprocesses

StrategicDialogue

NewDevelopments Development

withArchitecture

Businesssolutions

Developmentwithout

Architecture

Business solutions

ArchitecturalServices

Governance

Dynamic ArchitectureBusiness

architectureInformationarchitecture

Technicalarchitecture

Managementletter

Business case

BuildingPermit

Project-proposal

Architecture-framework

Project-start-architecture

New book!

� Working with architecture is not an automatic thing

� Architecture can be much more effective

� With the right measures

� At the right moment

Four pitfalls

1. Not able to explain the value of architecture

2. Lack of effectiveness

3. Doing everything at the same time

4. Architecture doesn’t touch ground

Issue: not able to explain the value

� Consequence:

Organization loses confidence Architect becomes insecure

� Cause:

Architecture deals with abstract matters� Solution:

Make vision on architecture explicit

Vision on architecture

Purpose

Definition

Services

Organization

Reason

ArchitecturalVision

Question (red and green cards!)

Do you have an explicit vision on architecture?

Red = NoGreen = Yes

Issue: lack of effectiveness� Result:

Being less effective than hoped for� Cause:

Unbalance between thinking and acting� Solution:

Set the balance right

Balance between thinking and acting

Integration in the organization

HighLow

Level of architecturalthinking

Low

Hig

hIsolation Enabling

Losing Barrier

Isolation

Integration in the organization

HighLow

Level of architecturalthinking

Low

Hig

h

• Integrate architecture in project management method• Services catalogue• Project start architecture

Barrier

Integration in the organization

HighLow

Level of architecturalthinking

Low

Hig

h

• Identify business value• Architectural framework• Dialogue business - IT

Losing

Integration in the organization

HighLow

Level of architecturalthinking

Low

Hig

h

• Architecture case• Make for awareness• Align with new developments

Enabling

Integration in the organization

HighLow

Level of architecturalthinking

Low

Hig

h

• Determine level of ambition• Monitor, evaluate, act

Issue: doing everything at the same time

� Consequence:

Nothing comes to an end Architecture loses credits quickly

� Cause:

There is a lot of work to do Fear to lose momentum

� Solution:

Set the right priorities

Architecture Maturity Matrix

� An instrument to professionalize the architecture practice of an enterprise: Questionnaire Architecture maturity matrix

� Measures the strengths and weaknesses in the architectural processes in 18 areas

� Helps to define the path to becoming more effective by setting priorities

Issue: architecture doesn’t touch ground

� Consequence:

Waste of energy, money and thinking power� Cause:

Architect works in isolation� Solution:

No architecture description without a plan

Project Plan

Sponsor

Purpose and target group

Use of architecture

Requirements of the architecture

Approach

Stakeholders

Question (red and green cards!)

Do you make a project plan for each architecture description?

Red = NoGreen = Yes

StrategicDialogue

New developments Development

withArchitecture

Businesssolutions

Architecture Services

Domainarchitecture

Project-start-

architecture

Enterprisearchitecture

From vision to execution

EnterpriseArchitecture =

cityplan of major change

DomainArchitecture =

blueprint of change

Architectureframework

Project-start-architecture =

subset architectureas starting point for

a project

Communicationbetweenarchitectandorganisation

Communicationbetweenarchitects

Different architectures

B I T

B I T

Enterprise architecture

B I T

Domain architecture

Project-Start-Architecture

StrategicVisionAbstractWhatThink

OperationalExecutionDetailHowDo

From vision to execution

Implementation of EA

Vision

ProcessProduct Person

Plan

The success of DYA

� Pragmatic Is not a rigid approach, more a philosophy (way of doing

architecture in an organization) based on principles, models and instruments (best practices)

Is an agile approach (just enough, just in time) Consists of a comprehensive vision backed by tangible tools Offers a step by step approach

� Practical Offers solutions for commonly recognized problems and

barriers Is based on best practices Makes a difficult topic understandable

� Free Is not proprietary Is accessible via books and website

Question (red and green cards!)

Do you recognize the value of DYA?

Red = NoGreen = Yes

Vragen

Fragen

Domande

Preguntas

Questions

Frågor

Questions