1. Info-Tech Research Group1 Get the Business Engaged in Enterprise Architecture Processes Keep the “E” in “EA.”

2. Info-Tech Research Group2 Gain business engagement in your enterprise architecture (EA) processes to ensure that you keep the “E” in “EA.” Introduction Enterprise architects and CIOs who want to create an EA function in the organization and need to plan business engagement in EA processes. Enterprise architects and CIOs planning to engage the business in existing EA processes. Business leaders considering participating in enterprise architecture and trying to define their own role in the processes. Assess which enterprise architecture processes would benefit most from business engagement. Engage the business in your EA processes so it can lend its authority and expertise. Create maximum value for the organization through enterprise architecture. This Research Is Designed For:This Research Will Help You: For enterprise architecture to really fulfill its true potential, business engagement is an imperative, it's an absolute essential success factor. There could be some success without it, but much more muted than it could have been. - Pallab Saha, National University of Singapore

3. Info-Tech Research Group3 Executive Summary Situation In many organizations, the EA function lacks business engagement and proceeds only with the assistance of IT. However, active engagement of business leadership and staff in key EA processes drives much of the value of EA. Complication Business leaders have their own methods for managing the business and do not perceive much value in the EA function. They see enterprise architecture as an IT intrusion into their own domain of expertise. In many cases the task of sponsoring the EA function falls to IT, cementing the perception of EA as a methodology with a strong footing in IT. Resolution Avoid an all-or-nothing approach to business engagement. Focus on those EA processes that will most benefit from engagement of the business. Instead of alienating business leaders by proposing a new strategic business planning method, plug EA into the existing strategic planning process. Position EA as a tool that the business can use for improved decision making within the context of existing strategic planning processes. Deal with special situations using Info-Tech’s recommended strategies. For example, adapt EA for an organization that has no formal business strategic planning exercise.

4. Info-Tech Research Group4 What’s in this Section:Sections: Headline / Subhead Vertical Spacing V2 What is enterprise architecture and why is business engagement important? Explanation of EA Drivers of EA value Business engagement as an enabler of EA value Planning your business engagement strategy Importance of Business Engagement Lay the Groundwork Business Engagement in Describe Current EA Business Engagement in Design Target EA Business Engagement in Review Projects Special Scenarios

5. Info-Tech Research Group5 Architecture domains are built in sequence. A weak design of the business architecture (BA) leads to inappropriate requirements for the lower level architectures, making it crucial to get the BA right. Enterprise architecture models are descriptions of the structure of an enterprise: where it is and where it needs to be Domains within EA Topics of interest Importance of business engagement Business architecture The sequential flow of activities in processes, and how events (such as the beginning of a fiscal quarter) trigger processes High: This architecture deals entirely with topics of interest to the business. Data architecture The data used in the organization and where it is stored, as well as which applications use which data Medium: The business has a stake in data usage and modeling. Application architecture The interfaces between applications, and when and how individuals or other applications use functionality Medium: The business has an interest in application interfaces. Technology architecture Hardware and software components that support the application architecture, and deployments of software code that combine to form applications Low: This architecture usually lies below the business’s interest. This solution set focuses on business engagement in the business architecture. Built in sequence

6. Info-Tech Research Group6 Enterprise architecture is a function within the organization, like a PMO or a VMO. Typically, an enterprise architect oversees these processes: The enterprise architecture methodology creates enterprise architecture models and uses them to govern the organization Document the current elements of the enterprise Define the vision for what the organization should look like Enforce the vision for the enterprise using governance Creating diagrams and models to show the current operation of the four domain architectures. Creating diagrams and models to show how the organization should look, without redundant and unnecessary processes and systems. Designing reusable components that the organization can leverage throughout the enterprise. Reviewing solution architectures to ensure that IT projects conform to the target state architecture. Reviewing changes to business processes to ensure alignment with the architectural vision. Describe the current state architecture Design the target state architecture Review project solutions Typical activities EA process flow Goal Iterate

7. Info-Tech Research Group7 The enterprise architecture methodology brings value to the organization through improved planning and design Creation of reusable components Efficiency – reduced costs Effectiveness – improved outcomes Agility* – reduced time to deploy Elimination of unnecessary processes and systems Typical EA activities Review of project (solution) architectures Reusable components reflect high standards of design, ensuring a high service quality The solution design stage is shorter when reusable components are used Eliminating redundancy reduces costs Understanding the relationships between solutions allows for better- defined behavior of solutions Locating solutions within a broader architecture allows for more efficient use of resources across solutions Eliminated redundancy results in consistency and better predictability Eliminating redundancy reduces complexity, reducing time to deploy new systems Enterprise architecture benefits *The Info-Tech survey defined agility as “speed with which the IT organization can roll out new services” and “speed with which the business can roll out new services.”

8. Info-Tech Research Group8 Importance of business engagement Business leaders or staff can expedite the documentation process and prevent the enterprise architect from having to sift through reams of documents. Business staff can find opportunities for business process improvement that an EA, CIO, or IT architect cannot. Business leaders will review the big picture. Business leaders will have to approve the overall governance structure for it to govern business process design. Drive discussion sessions around current business concerns. Target the right people for the areas you need information about. Keep the level of modeling depth appropriate to your audience. Tie models into existing strategic planning artifacts. Bring enterprise architecture to business strategic planning sessions. Promote EA governance through your executive advocate. Double your chances of EA success by building business engagement in EA processes Describe the current state architecture Design the target state architecture Review project solutions How to build business engagement Avoid an all-or-nothing approach to business engagement in enterprise architecture. Business engagement in each process brings measurable benefits, but also adds to its cost. Use the guidance in this storyboard to assess whether to seek business engagement in each of your EA processes. EA processes Effect of engagement on success % of EA initiatives that succeed (Source: Info-Tech Research Group; N=43)

9. Info-Tech Research Group9 Case Study: At a large Australian logistics company, business engagement in EA drives efficiency benefits of EA processes Industry: Segment: Logistics The Australian logistics company created an enterprise architecture initiative. The initiative received approval from senior business executives, who enthusiastically participated in documentation of the current state and creation of a target state architecture. The transformation team (which included enterprise architects and domain specialists) sought a way to disseminate the target state architecture among a wide business and technology audience. Situation The transformation team designed a target functional business model for the organization that described each business group’s contribution to the broader architecture. Business leaders put the functional business model up on their office walls, and conformance to the model became an on-going criterion for project evaluation. On the basis of the target architecture business leaders initiated several cost-saving projects, saving $10M’s in costs. Action Full business engagement in the EA initiative ensures that projects will conform to the architectural vision for the organization. That vision embodies the goals of enterprise architecture, which include eliminating unnecessary complexity and trimming costs. In this way, business engagement becomes a key enabler of EA benefits. Lesson Learned Large enterprise It is important to tie together the process analysis and the IT analysis. The EA’s role was to get everyone talking together. Business architects acted as a bridge in the middle of the design process. - Tom Graves, Principal Enterprise Architect, Tetradian Consulting

10. Info-Tech Research Group10 Overcome obstacles to building business engagement in enterprise architecture Getting the business engaged in enterprise architecture will present challenges, but ultimately allow you to reap rewards for your EA function. Business leaders view enterprise architecture as redundant Business leadership already has its own strategic planning tools, making the business architecture redundant to the existing business models. Tie enterprise architecture into the existing business models. Position EA as a methodology for expanding, not replacing, the existing planning tools. Business leaders see enterprise architecture as an IT initiative The models and methodology of EA are process - and documentation - heavy and seem to come from an IT perspective. Emphasize the business benefits of enterprise architecture. Get business leaders to sponsor the initiative. Business leaders balk at the time and cost estimates for EA EA is expensive and time- consuming. Share data showing the history of substantial efficiency, effectiveness, and agility benefits for organizations that use enterprise architecture. Obstacle Underlying cause How to overcome

11. Info-Tech Research Group11 Use Info-Tech’s Business Engagement in EA Strategy Tool to identify essential areas of business engagement Decide which of your enterprise architecture processes would experience a net benefit from business engagement. Use the tool at any point: prior to approval of the EA function or prior to entering one of the EA processes. Follow the guidance for whether the benefit of business engagement justifies the cost for each of the major processes. If it does, the tool will provide guidance for building engagement in that particular process. Use Info-Tech’s Business Engagement in EA Strategy Tool to plan your strategy for business engagement at the function approval stage and at three key enterprise architecture processes.Business Engagement in EA Strategy Tool

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