Differences between enterprise architecture and IT project portfolio?
IT project portfolio is the set of projects that the firm currently executes
Enterprise architecture: the norms
Without EA, what do emerging business problems lead to? (Smits)
the complexity of the IS application portfolio and design debt
What are the internal drivers for EA? (Smits)
complexity of IT, high IT costs, or the emerging business problems, and poor IT flexibility
What are the external drivers for EA? (Smits)
legislation, standardization, or supervisory institutions
What is the EA method from Groot, smits & kuipers to reduce o.a. complexity?
The picture approach
What are the three steps of the picture approach?
- Process - Pressure cooker model
- Products - Pictures & fact sheet
- Decision - multicriteria analysis, analytical hierarchy planning
Why should one use the picture approach as a model?
- to analyze, redesign and combine system complexes (application portfolios)
- fitting all in one As Is picture (and some To Be pictures)
- to improve business IT alignment in organizations
What are the five steps of the picture approach?
- Establish the project, project management, and senior management support
- Several photo-shoots –> core process, applications, documents, actors
- Review of the photos by MT
- Detailing the photos, adding fact sheets
- Freezing the photos of the ‘as is’ and (some) ‘to be’ situations
- Choosing the target EA (the ‘to be’ EA)
What do the fact sheets in the picture approach define?
- sustainability
- Functionality
- Process support
- Cost and benefits
- Risks
With which method do you choose the target EA (step 5 in picture approach)?
Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (Analytical Hierarchy planning)
What are three approaches to reduce complexity:
- Zachman approach: develop the right models for 5 perspectives and 6 viewpoints
- Picture approach: focus on the right ‘pressure cooker’ modeling process
- Practical approach: use two simple models for IS application portfolio management
What is a foundation for execution?
Routine tasks in a firm need to be automated so that they are executed reliably and predictably without requiring any thought
Why use a foundation for execution?
Reduce complexity
Enhance business agility
Fulfill needs for regulatory and legal compliance
What are the three steps for building a foundation of execution?
- Operating model: vision on the organization by top management
- EA maturity model: Creating maturity leadership
- IT Engagement model: vision on IT governance
What is the operating model?
It describes how a company wants to thrive and grow (managerial perspective)
What are the two dimensions of the operating model?
Business process standardization: degree to which processes use the same data
Business process integration: degree to which processes operate identically
What are the four operating models? (dimensions can be low or high, start with y-axes integration)
HL - Coordination (Customer intimacy)
HH - Unification (Operational excellence)
LL - Diversification (Choice per business unit)
LH - Replication (Product leadership)
