Enterprise architecture (EA) is a strategic framework that aligns an organization’s business strategy, processes, information, and technology to achieve its goals. It provides a holistic view of the organization, enabling effective decision-making, optimization of resources, and adaptation to changes in the business environment.
EA is a well-defined practice for conducting enterprise analysis, design, planning, and implementation for the successful development and execution of strategy. EA reduces redundancy, complexity, and information silos and business risks associated with IT investments. EA also guides the controlled evolution of IT in a way that delivers business benefit in a cost-effective way.
EA consists of four commonly accepted domains: business, application, data, and technology. Each domain describes a different aspect of the organization, such as its structure, functions, capabilities, interactions, and resources. EA also uses various frameworks and methodologies to organize and communicate the architecture, such as the Zachman Framework, TOGAF, NAF, DoDAF, MoDAF, and others.
EA is practiced by enterprise architects, who are responsible for performing the analysis of business structure and processes and providing recommendations for policy adjustments and best strategies to support and enable business development and change. Enterprise architects also oversee the work of solution architects, who focus on specific solutions within the enterprise.
EA is a valuable discipline for any organization that wants to align its business and IT strategies, improve its performance and productivity, and respond to disruptive forces and opportunities in the market. EA helps the organization to achieve its vision and objectives by applying architecture principles and practices to guide the organization through the business, information, process, and technology changes necessary to execute its strategy.
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