Issue 3-2

I recently attended an Enterprise Architecture conference and was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with many EA practitioners, with each sharing their current issues and their perspectives on the EA discipline. As at previous events, I was again struck by the intensity and passion for EA from everyone I met. Whether new to the discipline or seasoned pros, they all shared the same desire: to make a difference in their organizations. No surprise there. That drive has always been one of the defining characteristics of those drawn to the role of Enterprise Architect.

Today’s CIOs face increased scrutiny of the expense and management of their resources–technologies, processes and people. The mandate to align and deliver agile operational support to the business is as intense as any time in the past 20 years. Failure to succeed often translates into the threat of being outsourced or hosted. CIOs continue to be excluded from the decision-making table, even though everyone recognizes IT’s integral role in every part of the business.

You don’t need to read about EA for long without coming across “effective governance.” This may make you think that you need endless steering committees and design reviews, that every project will be subject to additional scrutiny and checkpoints. Or in the worst case, that you will become less responsive to the business when the whole idea was to become better aligned.

Between the Edge and the Hub
Ever since two applications were first plugged together, architects have debated where integration logic belongs: The Hub or the Edge.

Editor's Note:
In our Visualize column, we strive to bring you interesting interpretations of everyday information. These illustrations are as much about concepts as they are about the underlying data. In this issue, we present a visual view of the “webbed world” in the guise of a Tokyo Metro map. Sites and companies (stations) are linked together around common trends (train lines). While purely subjective, the concept raises interesting questions about alternative ways to organize information in your universe. Enjoy!–Jonas Lamis

Enterprise architectures are a major initiative for most IS organizations. Yet, despite major investments in their development, many are stalled in implementation awaiting user compliance.

In the best of situations, it is difficult for users to align with the architecture. They are constrained by “legacy” applications. They encounter significant costs for acquiring new products, developing new skills and reengineering support and services. Their projects are delayed to affect these changes. And, for them, the benefits are a future potential.