Created: 27 September 2021

An Introductory Guide to Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise architecture helps companies respond to change and realize their business goals. This article explains the basics of this vital business tool.

Keyword(s): enterprise architecture

If you lead a business, you know that there are many ways to organise your business. There are blueprints you can make, strategies to utilise or applications to develop.

But what's the best way to marry IT infrastructure and business goals? If you've been failing to meet your business outcomes, we have the solution for you. 

Enterprise architecture frameworks. 

It is the easiest way to map your business organisation with the technology, employees, and processes that make it what it is. Want to learn how you can use this fantastic tool to make your company processes more efficient?

Keep reading for our introductory guide on enterprise architecture.

What Exactly Is Enterprise Architecture?

The term enterprise architecture refers to a strategy or organising method. It helps manage various approaches to business, helping with longevity and scaling success. 

Enterprise architecture, or EA, uses digital technology to better and streamline processes. It does this by binding a strategy or technique to innovation.

For example, processes can be linked to the IT and business industry, as this will help create standards across sectors. Resources can then be shared and managed to save time, effort, and money.

Thus, EA includes:

• Blueprint or map to manage and measure operational and structural success
• Strategies for linking operations with technology infrastructure
• Process for organising processes, infrastructure, and employees so that they align with the larger business goals

The bottom line is that EA is the tool you can use to grow your company. You'll be able to evolve everything from your personnel to your technology to ensure your business makes it to the top.

What Are the Goals of Enterprise Architecture?

The goals of EA are always customisable to individual businesses. To determine the purposes of your EA processes, ask yourself this question: what are your long term business and growth strategies?

The organisation's requirements ultimately guide EA. By understanding where you want to get to, EA will help provide information on how to get there.

From a larger goal, enterprise architecture moves onto smaller goals. There could be individual data, technology or personnel goals. For example, you wish to grow the team to a mid-size company. Or that you want to use cloud computing to create a data framework.

Unlike other frameworks, EA doesn't have a formal strategy structure. Instead, it offers a more holistic way of goal setting and achieving.

The reason for this is that EA integrates and combines a range of different innovations, structures and sectors to help your business achieve its goals.

Is Enterprise Architecture Advantageous?

In short, yes, absolutely.

You may be wondering how EA can contribute to your organisation's goals? Well, here are a few of the main benefits of this system:

• Promotes cross-collaboration across sectors
• Integrates IT and business for a holistic framework
• Integrates organisation and standardisation, which help achieve consistency
• Stays reliable across organisational and leadership changes
• Offers processes to develop the technology even further
• It provides a benchmark framework by which to compare other techniques and strategies, thus helping test the efficacy

Enterprise architecture can also be used to eliminate errors, failures and security breaches. It helps higher-level employees with decision making and system development as well.

As you can see, EA is a fantastic asset that every company can use to their advantage.

What Are the Main Enterprise Architecture Methodologies?

EA uses a significant number of methodologies to achieve business goals. The method you choose will depend on your expected outcomes, available resources, and expendable energy.

Let us take a look at some of the leading enterprise architecture frameworks below.

The Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture

The founder, John Zachman, saw the need for complex information systems yet with a precise classification and interface.

The method aims to provide value through various tools and approaches. It emphasises IT applications that can be used to create dialogue and conversation.

The Open Group Architectural Framework

TOGAF uses controlled phases to manage, design, plan, and implement IT frameworks for EA. It aims to offer a standardised approach, using a common vocabulary, standards, benchmarks, methods and software.

All in all, this creates a range of practices that has excellent efficacy.

TOGAF is one of the most popular EA methodologies out there, as it is used by most of the world's leading businesses.

Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework

FEAF is a framework that can be used by both the private and public sectors. The U.S. Government initially developed it as a means to encourage collaboration and planning.

It offers stellar results, and its approach has been iteratively developed for many years. However, its applications today surpass that of simply just federal agencies. Instead, many organisations and private companies are using it to their advantage.

Learn More About Enterprise Architecture With Advised Skills Today

Enterprise architecture is your best bet to standardise and organise your IT infrastructure. The best part? You'll be able to use strategic planning to reach all your business goals.

Companies all over the world use enterprise analysis. Not only will you be able to pave the way to digital transformation, but you'll be able to evolve your IT growth to meet current market demands.

But learning all about this specialised field can be daunting and intimidating. That's where Advised Skills comes in.

As an accredited and licensed learning provider, our courses have over 6000 graduates, with a certification exam pass rate of 98.6%! 

Register for one of our upcoming enterprise architecture courses to learn more about this fascinating field today!