Why is EA so important?

The purpose and central task of Enterprise Architecture (EA) practices is the holistic management (documentation, analysis, planning, and control) of the Enterprise Architecture. This refers to an abstraction of the fundamental properties, building blocks, and relationships ("architecture") of an enterprise (or organization). The enterprise architecture spans from the business model and operations down to the application and technology landscape. Unlike other functions, EA always focuses on the big picture and overarching connections. EA ensures transparency of the current situation (also called "current architecture" or "current landscape"). Additionally, various instruments such as principles ("guardrails"), standards, reference models, and target pictures are used to set guidelines for a future development in line with the strategy ("target architecture"). Adherence to and implementation of these guidelines are continuously monitored (architecture governance) and actively supported (project support). This is especially important for larger transformations.

EA practices can encompass various elements and roles. In most organizations, there are central teams in place consisting of Enterprise, Business, and IT Architects. Often, these are complemented by decentralized architects, particularly at the domain and solution levels. For larger transformations, dedicated transformation architecture offices may be established. Last-but-not-least, decision boards (e.g., architecture boards) are needed to facilitate EA-related decision making.

Organizations are increasingly forced to rethink their business models and realign their offerings at shorter intervals. To be successful, these adjustments must be consistent across all levels of the enterprise architecture – from the business model to the operational organization and the IT landscape. This is especially challenging in established organizations, where landscapes are very complex and dependencies are often unclear. Enterprise Architecture can help here by providing transparency in the form of architectural descriptions. It also offers a proven and highly effective toolkit for defining target pictures in line with corporate strategy. EA differs from other approaches in its overarching and holistic view. This is exactly what is needed to ensure strategic consistency and optimal alignment.

The value of EA is not limited to large organizations. Even relatively small firms can benefit from EA, especially if they operate internationally or are growing rapidly. However, smaller organizations tend to have different requirements for agility and cost efficiency. Hence, the right balance needs to be found.

Agile organization and architecture management have often been portrayed as opposites in the past. However, this is not accurate and can be detrimental to the agile approach in the long run. On the one hand, architectural development can be done in an agile way. There are now proven approaches for doing so ("Agile Architecture"). On the other hand, agile teams also need a clear framework and architectural guidelines to work together and achieve the common goals of the organization. Without such a framework, agility can have a negative impact on sustainability and significantly accelerate complexity growth. Therefore, when building an agile organization, special attention should be paid to a sound coverage and integration of EA tasks (e.g. using frameworks like SAFe® or O-AA®).

The establishment and successful operation of an EA practice is fraught with significant challenges. The reasons for this are manifold. On the one hand, EA with its holistic perspective often touches the sphere of influence of certain stakeholders. Without top management support and concrete incentives, this often leads to resistance. In addition, EA and its results are relatively abstract and high-level. This can be overwhelming for many stakeholders, especially at the operational level. Therefore, good integration into the organization, a clear focus on concrete added value, and careful communication are essential for the success of EA.