3.4 Agile EAM and EAM Patterns

Question 1

How do you call a system of low dynamicity and low complexity?

Answer 1

predictable system

Question 2

How do you call a system of medium dynamicity and medium complexity?

Answer 2

complex dynamic system

Question 3

How do you call a system of high dynamicity and high complexity?

Answer 3

chaotic system

Question 4

What is the system management approach for a predictable system?

Answer 4

Specialize & automate (taylorism)

Question 5

What is the system management approach for a complex dynamic system?

Answer 5

agile, collaborative management (emergent structures)

Question 6

What is the system management approach for a chaotic system?

Answer 6

Experiment & learn (MVP)

Question 7

Are the agile EA management priciples rather connected to formal processes and tools or to individuals and interactions?

Answer 7

Rather to individuals and interactions.

Question 8

Relationship-wise what do you strive for in EA management?

Answer 8

• ensure top management support
• maintain a good relationship to people from other management areas

Question 9

How do you focus on demands of top stakeholders and speak their language?

Answer 9

• a single number of picture is more helpful than 1000 reports
• communication is key
• avoid waste (collect demand not information)
• benefit from existing model management processess

Question 10

How do you reflect behavior and adapt to changes in the agile EA management principles?

Answer 10

• interative and incremental (one cycle around 12 months)
• use building blocks and patterns
• request 360° feedback
• adapt models and processes
• continuous collaboration

Question 11

5 steps in lean management

Answer 11

1. Specify value from the standpoint of the end customer by product family
2. Identify all the steps in the value stream for each product family, eliminating whenever possible those steps that do not create value.
3. Make the value-creating steps occur in tight sequence so that the product will flow smoothly toward the customer.
4. As flow is introduced, let customers pull value from the next upstream activity.
5. Begin the process again and continue it until a state of perfection is reached in which perfect value is created with no waste.

Question 12

What is the risk of lean management?

Answer 12

Over-fitting of EA function to current demands

Question 13

3 steps of collaborative EAM

Answer 13

Establish a lean set of processes and rules –> lean

Adopt evolutionary problem solving –> agile

Foster and moderate open participation –> enterprise 2.0

Question 14

3 problems with EAM which are the motivation for the EAM initiative

Answer 14

Problems:
- lack of knowledge of EAM-fundamentals of EAM practitioners
- high entry barriers for beginners
- no common language and understanding

Question 15

What is EAM initiative’s mission statement?

Answer 15

• accessible to broader community
• enhance it based on feedback and contributions of the community
• increase effectiveness

–> knowledge, transparency, community, foundations, best practices, themes

Question 16

What is an enterprise architecture management pattern (EAM pattern)?

Answer 16

• general, reusable solution to a common problem
• in a given context (context dependent),
• identifies driving forces,
• known usages and
• consequences

Question 17

Does an EAM pattern take an holistic perspecitve? And if yes how?

Answer 17

Yes
- it addresses problems at the enterprise level
- considers social, technical, and economic forces in a balanced manner
- discovers working solutions
- uses clear, accessible, and informal language

Question 18

How much time does EA management spend on what?

Answer 18

75% on communicating etc
12.5% on model, collecting
12.5% on adaptating, reflecting

Question 19

What are the core concepts of the EAM pattern catalog?

Answer 19

The EA team uses methods to address concerns of stakeholders by using specific visualization.

Question 20

Draw structure of EAMPC (pattern catalog) VC

Answer 20

1. Influence factors, Maturity levels
2. Stakeholders
3. Concerns
4. Method patterns, Architecture principles
5. Views: Viewpoint patterns, information model patterns
6. Data collection patterns

Question 21

Is an anti-pattern good?

Answer 21

No it is a bad pattern

Question 22

What is the don’t boil the ocean anti-pattern about?

Answer 22

You should not create a meta-modle and then an create EA model by collection data

problem:
- data collection is expensive/ takes time
- neither in-depth nor broad will be sufficient

recommendation:
- start with a small model
- enlarge it when needed incrementally

Question 23

What is the “Don’t build an ivory tower” anti-pattern about?

Answer 23

usual process:
- EA initiatives are set up as a project
- EA responsibilities and knowledge are centralized

observation:
- models are built without talking to other stakeholders
- terminology is unclear
- benefits not demonstrated

recommendation:
- establish a shared language
- connect demand and supply
- demonstrate quick wins
- establish EA processes

Question 24

Steps in EAM being a sustainable management function

Answer 24

• Develop & describe
• Communicate & enact
• analyze & evaluate
• configure & adapt

Question 25

What is develop & describe about?

Answer 25

- gather information and describe current state of EA - develop long-term vision - design medium-term

Question 26

Communicate & Enact

Answer 26

- Communicate current state to the different stakeholders - Enact planned states by influencing projects

Question 27

Analyze & Evaluate

Answer 27

Assess current state of the EA and identify potentials for improvement - Analyze the gaps between the current and target state & between planned and target state

Question 28

Configure & Adapt

Answer 28

- measure performance of the EA management function - adapt the EA management function by reassessing goals, environmental factors