Our client, a major IT service provider of the German federal administration, faced the challenge of launching a large-scale landscape consolidation as demanded by the German federal government but lacked the required architecture management capabilities, methods and tools to do so. 

Our client intended to set up an Enterprise Architecture (EA) capability following best practices in order to successfully transform itself into a full-range service provider of first choice. To achieve this, a tailored architecture management framework was to be established by selecting, customizing and extending the required building blocks from TOGAF®.

Initially, the client was supported in developing a new IT strategy which should serve as a pivotal management tool to manage the organization and to inform the required EA framework. In a next step, stakeholder interviews were conducted to determine the requirements for architecture management from a stakeholder perspective. This was then used to identify and prioritize the necessary components from TOGAF® and other best practice frameworks including the Scape EA Baseline Model. As a result, the services to be provided by the EA capability and the architecture principles to be followed were defined and established (using a coaching approach) together with the required processes, roles and committees, deliverables, viewpoints, and metamodel. Special emphasis was put on the processes for target architecture planning, standards management as well as data maintenance. Also, an EA tool was introduced and customized to the client's needs.

After the EA capability had been set up, the initial operation was supported as well. This included the development of a first target architecture master plan for the IT services provider itself and it's clients. Also, technology stacks were defined for cloud offerings including IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. Technology stacks and other technical standards were included in a standards catalogue (organized by a technical architecture framework) in order to support the planned consolidation on a technical level. Last but not least, ongoing architecture tasks were accompanied including the development of solution architectures, architecture reviews and architecture consulting.

At the end of the project an EA management capability and corresponding framework had been defined and largely established within the client organization. Also, a supporting EA tool had been introduced and customized to the client's needs. Beyond that, an IT strategy, a target architecture master plan as well as a set of technology standards had been initially developed. As a result, the client had been enabled to leverage architecture management practices to effectively manage IT consolidation efforts and improve the overall operation by ensuring transparency and setting clear directions for the future development.