When IT Architects Describe EA to other IT Architects

re: When IT Architects Describe EA to other IT Architects

Nick Malik — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:23:15 GMT

@Robert,

With all due respect, a well-meaning guide that misinforms is counterproductive. I have defined Enterprise Architecture in prior posts, including a job description.

Do I believe that we are done when we have the "right" definition? No. Of course not. EA does not have a definitional problem. If you ask an actual EA what he does, you get a good definition. The problem is that we are asking the wrong people.

The role is clear to someone who has performed it, just as the role of physician is clear to a physician. However, just as a physician would be rendered a disservice if his role were "defined" by a biologist, I do not believe that the role of Enterprise Architect gains in clarity when it is described by a person with no understanding or experience in the role.

Understanding the role is the first step but far from the only one.

Describing the scenarios that an Enterprise Architect interacts with, describing common practices, and offering templates for improvement... this is the stuff of frameworks. This activity is necessary in order to build a common understanding that allows progress in the profession. That is the practical goal of a framework, although the Open Group has made the mistake of allowing non-Enterprise Architects to describe their work as Enterprise Architecture, thus contributing to the confusion reflected in Mr. Keller's guide.

Getting consensus among biologists about the definition of medicine is difficult, and unnecessary. Sometimes, the answer is to ask fewer, more qualified, people.

That said, TOGAF has made strides. It is about 25% there. Most of the really obvious mistakes have been removed. It is a solid yet partial product.

Mr. Keller's guide is not so fortunate. It represents a poor contribution to both EA and EITA, and should be actively avoided by both target audiences described within it.

My criticism stands. That said. I welcome your opinion and am grateful to you for sharing it.

--- N

re: When IT Architects Describe EA to other IT Architects

Roger Griessen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:58:48 GMT

Well, quite harsh a criticism, for a piece of work that is basically a 'well-meaning' contribution to the 'How to explain TOGAF'-category, not even 'guilty' to the offense of 'false or misleading labelling': The author states very early on in his publication, that the term "Enterprise Architecture" is being used and meant in the sense of "Enterprise IT Architecture".

Or as Mr. Keller has put it in the (German) title of a book, he authored back in 2006: It's about "IT-Unternehmensarchitektur", literally "IT Enterprise Architecture" (i.e. "IT" being "the Enterprise" in the focus of 'architecting' activities).

Me too, I feel a bit uncomfortable with the ' trials and tribulations' expressed by many in the 'blogosphere' around the 'right interpretation' of Enterprise Architecture, what it is or should be.

However, what gives me an impression of 'mission impossible' here, is a kind of 'pride and prejudice' attitude some authors exhibit, when blaming others for 'looking at it in the wrong way'. To me, this is simply the sort of 'locked-in' thinking we, as the community of practicing EAs (at least 80% coming from somewhere within IT), need to overcome.

It is not my intent, to counter your criticism, but simply to ask a question: Do you think, with the 'right' definition of "Enterprise Architecture" we're 'done'? And could you please share your "Definition of Enterprise Architecture" with us, just in case you have it?

And I am not joking here, believe me, as I think I don't underestimate the degree of complexity handling, conviction changing and consensus making necessary for this very task at all - being pretty much involved in the evolution of TOGAF, I continuously try to remember people to the fact, that TOGAF as a industry consortium consensus specification has embarked on a (admittedly, rather long) journey towards 'the new paradigm', being the evolution from 'Technical Architecture' (thinking) towards 'Enterprise Architecture' (thinking) as stated, but rarely cited, on this page since December 2002: www.opengroup.org/.../index7.htm

re: When IT Architects Describe EA to other IT Architects

Bevan Blackie — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:30:15 GMT

All of the points you articulate make a lot of sense to me, an aspiring EA who recently read the TOGAF guide you refer to. Whilst reading the guide I often asked myself two questions:

1) How does an EA actually make use of this framework?

2) Is this really an EA framework?

Time and time again I concluded the answer to the latter question must be a no. What about the first question?

My thirst for answers actually lead me to knocking on the door of a few EAs that work for the financial services organisation that I work for. Unfortunately I never really felt like I received a succinct answer.

Both Adrian's and your posts are eye opening and insightful, thank you for sharing. If you manage to find better TOGAF literature out there please let me know!