I have updated the MWT/TEBT Enterprise Architecture Worksheet (pdf). The major change is that I have included a better template diagram. I have also included some references to the Enterprise Architecture As Strategy book which make it clear that a different diagram template is probably required for enterprises with different operating models. The worksheet is now suitable for a unification operating model as defined in the EA as Strategy book.
The reason for the update is that I have been trying to visualize the enterprise architecture of a client organisation I am working with and this process has helped my thinking. I’m a big supporter of the approach to Enterprise Architecture prescribed in Enterprise Architecture as Strategy. However, the client I am working with at the moment that has a number of important characteristics which don’t come out very well in the example and template EA ‘core diagram’ formats show in the book.
The book itself isn’t about a modeling notation so it doesn’t actually prescribe a specific diagram style. It’s focus in more iterative development of the enterprise architecture and the sequence of components to focus on during development of the architecture.
The organisation I am working with, while certainly operating under a Unification model at the highest level, has a number of unique pillars in their competitive strategy which don’t come out when taking the book’s approach. So I have altered the generative sequence for EA development in this organisation.
Firstly, the unique strategic pillars for this organisation are:
- High need for operational capital
- Resulting in a need to support the organisation’s share price
- Resulting in a business segmentation strategy to increase visibility of value to the market
- Need to manage markets and customer types across two distinct operations in order to remain competitive
- Need for detailed product accounting to ensure accurate profitability of each ‘product’ can be determined
- Need to be able to quickly change ‘product’ mix across two operations
- A natural fit to a service oriented business architecture
Because of this I have developed a template EA core diagram structure which takes these into account. I believe it works very well for this organisation and others like it. I have included the diagram to the right with a full sized version (as well an overview of it’s main zones and analysis patterns) available in the pdf file.