Introduction
Enterprise Architecture Framework has four types of Architectures elements or components namely – Business Architecture, Data, Application & Technology. [BDAT]
These four types of Architectures elements are connected to ADM. ADM, the architecture development method [ADM], has three phases where the B (business), D (data), A (application) and T (technology) architectures are developed, both for the “as-is” situation and for the desired “to-be” goal.
Business architecture enables to translate or convert VALUE as an effective medium of communication and analytical framework for translating enterprise strategy into actionable initiatives- enhancing the enterprise’s capacity to enact transformation change in Today’s digital world and its technology enablers.
The Object Management Group (OMG) provides the definition of Business Architecture as –
“The structure of the enterprise in terms of its governance structure, business processes, and business information. In defining the structure of the enterprise, business architecture considers customers, finances, and the ever-changing market to align strategic goals and objectives with decisions regarding products and services; partners and suppliers; organisation; capabilities; and key initiatives.”
Different View of Business Architecture
Business architecture blueprints provides a common vocabulary or platform to understand or comprehend enterprise goals and objectives aka “strategic objectives” and tactical demands and provide a variety of ways to view the business – Sharing perspective, Common terminology, Viewing stakeholders & Value delivery.
Elements of Business Architecture
Information – the common vocabulary it uses to communicate
Capability – what does the business do? What a business does to achieve a purpose or outcome.
Organisation – the structure of the business – “Who and Where”?
Value Stream – how it delivers value to stakeholders?
Important Artefacts of Business Architecture
Stakeholders, Policies, Capabilities [Capabilities are the things the enterprise must be able to DO in order to fulfil its mission and deliver its strategic objectives. Capability is an abstraction of the ability to produce an outcome], Strategies, Organisation, Information, Value Streams, Products, Metrics, Initiatives.
Value of Business Architecture or why there is need for Business Architecture
- Provides business view
- Enables to identify Value Streams and identify DOWNTIME
- Enables to translate goals and strategy to work plans and/or work packages
- A means to identify the impact of change
- Enables to identify involvement of information technology in the enterprise which in turn enables to initiate different projects
Summary
Business architecture enables to link strategy to execution by focusing on the business capabilities required to get to the future state, bridging the gap between the technical and IT architecture (e.g. hardware, software, and infrastructure) and the business operational model.
The ultimate aim of Business Architecture is to unlock organizational capacity.
