Enterprise architecture defined
Imagine your organization is a large building. Just as a building needs a blueprint to plan for how the walls, rooms, electrical systems, and plumbing fit together, enterprise architecture acts as the blueprint for your organization. It's a structured way to understand how an organization's employees, processes, information and technologies come together to meet the needs of its people and improve its operations.
Enterprise architecture (EA) uses tools that allow you to visualize clearly your organization's current situation, including how it's performing. This insight helps you determine where you want to go and what steps are needed to get there. It's like planning a building renovation: you start by first understanding why people use the building and how they fit and move within it. Then you assess the current layout to identify the improvements or new features that are needed and determine the order in which the work should be carried out.
Just like a well-designed building requires every layer, from the foundation to the roof, to resist against time and external forces, EA requires an organization's people, processes, information, and technologies to be strategically positioned to ensure its stability, seamless operation, and capacity for future growth.
Enterprise Architecture in the Government of Canada
Transcript
Transcript: Enterprise Architecture in the Government of Canada
[00:00:00 Music plays. A pair of sunglasses rests on a table. A hand reaches out and picks them up. A woman (Agent A) puts on the sunglasses. She is in an office building. Blue light sweeps across the sunglass lenses.]
Narrator: Good morning, Agent A. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn the fundamentals of Enterprise Architecture, also known as EA.
[00:00:15 A text appears on screen: Enterprise Architecture - EA]
Narrator: and to share that knowledge with others. EA is crucial to the evolution of our organization! Enterprise Architecture is a comprehensive and methodical discipline that fosters a shared understanding of the organization. EA products enhance communication and visualization of the structure and functioning of the organization. Enterprise Architecture is recognized globally.
[00:00:43 A digital globe appears, followed by the Government of Canada logo. A text appears on screen: Treasury Board Secretariat]
Narrator: and is a Government of Canada requirement set forth by the Treasury Board Secretariat for all departments. The complexity of our organization, with its continuous transformation, can be overwhelming.
[00:00:55 Still in the virtual world, digital LEGO blocks fly into view and begin assembling themselves.]
[00:00:58 A text appears on screen: Systems, Organizational Structure, Innovation]
Narrator: Understanding its structure and operations is vital for informed decision-making, identifying appropriate changes, and investing in initiatives to achieve organizational objectives.
[00:01:06 Two LEGO structures are shown. A line extends between them to connect them. Two more LEGO blocks appear. A yellow LEGO block is highlighted and connects to another, illustrating their relationship.]
Narrator: By developing EA products, distinct parts of our structure are explained, showing how changes in one area can affect others.
[00:01:14 Two LEGO blocks are improperly connected, flashing red to indicate an error. A text appears on screen: Connections. The top block adjusts and repositions correctly. Agent A continues to observe the digital presentation.]
Narrator: EA clarifies roles and connections by identifying the individual pieces and how they come together. This alignment, fostered by EA, is the foundation of our decision-making process, leading us to choices that enhance our operational efficiency and support our strategic goals.
[00:01:33 A video screen displays a meeting among employees. A text appears on screen: Services, Projects, Initiatives]
Narrator: Each employee plays a dynamic role, whether offering services, managing projects, or driving initiatives. By understanding interconnections, we ensure the cohesion and evolution of our organization.
[00:01:44 Various screens representing different employees appear and fly by.]
[00:01:49 A text appears on screen: Departmental Objectives, Enterprise Architecture, Mission/Vision]
Narrator: Our mission is to support the organization's objectives. Enterprise Architecture documents how strategy, people, processes, information, and technologies.
[00:01:55 A text appears on screen: Strategy, People, Processes, Information, Technology]
Narrator: work together while highlighting opportunities and identifying what might be missing.
[00:02:04 Agent A moves digital pieces across the virtual space. Errors in red are adjusted and turn blue, demonstrating harmony.]
Narrator: This ensures that planned changes are implemented effectively and align with organizational strategic objectives. Consider interoperability as essential for ensuring that all departments and their functions integrate smoothly. EA provides methodology and standards for seamless collaboration.
[00:02:27 A LEGO structure rotates with gears and icons surrounding it. A new LEGO block moves closer to be added to the structure.]
Narrator: Utilizing Enterprise Architecture allows us to meticulously evaluate the impact of each block we place, ensuring that every addition aligns seamlessly with our overarching objectives. Enterprise Architecture allows us to centralize and reuse information.
[00:02:43 A large structure with the letters EA appears at the center, surrounded by smaller rotating structures.]
Narrator: remove barriers and makes it possible to identify capabilities to be developed.
[00:02:47 A text appears on screen: Centralize re-use information, Remove barriers]
Narrator: and accelerate digital transformation.
[00:02:54 The large EA structure is shown with organizational charts and graphs unfolding around it before retracting back into the structure.]
Narrator: Using EA ensures that stakeholder concerns are considered. It facilitates communication between the different types of stakeholders, and provides the information needed to develop roadmaps. Knowing more about EA makes us better prepared to continue the transformation.
[00:02:47 A text appears on screen: Enterprise Architecture: Mission Accomplished]
Narrator: Mission accomplished. Well done, Agent A. Your improved understanding of Enterprise Architecture has prepared you for the next challenge.
[00:03:19 The large EA structure flies off into the distance. A digital display summarizes the information. A text appears on screen: Mission Summary, More agile, More efficient]
Narrator: You have now unlocked the essentials of EA. Step into the future. Be more agile, more efficient, and ready to contribute significantly to the success of the organization. This message will self-replicate in 5 seconds. Please pass it on to your colleagues. Good luck, Agent A.
[00:03:39 Agent A removes the sunglasses. The digital world fades, and she is back in the office space. She smiles and throws the sunglasses.]
[00:03:47 An employee standing outside a government building sees blue light sweep across their glasses, indicating they are now watching the same EA presentation.]
[00:3:53 Fades to Black. The Directorate of Enterprise Architecture's logo appears on screen. The Department of National Defence's logo appears on screen.]
Frameworks of enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture (EA) framework is the toolkit by which your organization's blueprint is designed. It offers a clear and standardized way to describe and understand the different parts of an organization. An EA framework includes the common language, best practices and tools everyone uses to work together, stay organized and adapt, while aligning with the organization's goals. Just as the plumbers, electricians and finishers in a building need to understand and coordinate their work, so too do the professionals working in information technology, information management and human resources in an organization.
Enterprise architecture frameworks are used to create the architectures that ensure the different parts of a building coordinate their work, are easy to maintain, and can adapt to future needs without having to tear everything down and start from scratch.
The Government of Canada (GC) Enterprise Architecture Framework ensures that digital initiatives are aligned with the government's broader strategies in 5 domains: business, information, application, technology, and security. Reviewing digital initiatives across these 5 domains ensures that their components, such as business processes or technology systems, are strategically aligned and work efficiently.
A plumber, electrician and carpenter each view the same building from a different perspective because their concerns and information needs differ. Similarly, constructing a building requires a blueprint that includes different perspectives on the floor plans, electrical wiring, and structural details. In EA, when the architecture is examined from the specific needs of a person or group, it's called an architecture view. A viewpoint, on the other hand, refers to the set of guidelines for creating or applying that view. Just as building codes and standards ensure a common understanding when drafting blueprints, a viewpoint provides a consistent framework.
By using views and viewpoints, the Government of Canada can effectively address diverse concerns, support better decision-making, and maintain a cohesive, forward-looking digital strategy.
In addition to its Enterprise Architecture Framework, the Government of Canada relies on various tools to guide decision-making and ensure consistency in its digital technology projects and related initiatives. Some of these tools are described here:
- The Digital Standards offer guidance on designing and delivering digital services and projects, ensuring new initiatives follow best practices.
- The GC Business Capability Model outlines the various functions and services provided by the government, helping departments plan, communicate, collaborate, and modernize their systems more effectively.
- The Digital and Service Target Enterprise Architecture White Paper defines the government's vision for a more cohesive and sustainable digital landscape, and outlines how it should operate.
- The GC Enterprise Architecture Review Board, managed by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), reviews and approves departmental digital initiatives to ensure they align with the enterprise architecture framework requirements.
These tools, along with the Policy on Service and Digital, Directive on Service and Digital, and Guideline on Service and Digital, establish rules for managing service delivery, information, data, IT, and cyber security in the digital era. The Guideline in particular helps government organizations by providing advice, considerations and best practices so they understand and are able to apply these policies and directives.
Getting started with enterprise architecture
Enterprise architecture frameworks focus on answering 3 questions:
- Where are we today?
Think of this step like assessing the current state of a building before starting a renovation. Before you make any changes, you need to first consider what you have. This means looking closely at the processes, systems and technologies already in place in your organization. Identify what works well and where there are issues. For example, you might discover that different teams are using different software systems that don't communicate with each other, leading to inefficiencies. Just like inspecting the foundation, plumbing and wiring of a building, this step helps you understand what you have and what needs to change.
- Where do we want to be in the future?
Once you know what you have, the next step is to envision a future state, like planning the outcome of your building renovation. Do you want a more energy efficient building, or are you aiming for a modern and open office with better collaboration spaces? In EA, this involves defining your future business goals and how technology can support them. Are you hoping to implement more automation? Do you want to streamline processes? It's about setting a clear goal for where the organization wants to be, operationally and technologically.
- How will we get there?
Now that you know where you are and where you want to go, the final step is creating a plan, like mapping out the stages of your renovation. Will you tackle the electrical and plumbing first, or will you focus on structural changes? In EA, this means identifying the steps to move from your current state to your desired future. You'll need to outline what information is required, which systems need updating or replacing, where you could introduce new technologies, and how to make these changes without disrupting ongoing operations.
By answering these 3 questions, you can create a clear path for your organization to achieve its objectives and transform.
A simplified approach to describing an organization's current state is to answer 8 questions:
- What are the primary business services that your organization provides?
- Who are the users of your primary business services?
- What data and information is each team responsible for?
- What are the policies, regulations, or goals requiring the service to exist?
- What is the name of the applications that deliver your services?
- What technologies make up the applications?
- Where are the technologies relevant to your organization's services? Are they located on site, in the cloud, on mobile devices, or at a partner's site?
- What is the nature of the teams fulfilling each business function? Are they in house or contracted? Are they seasonal or permanent?
Then, ask those same questions from the perspective of where your organization wants to be in the future.
This process helps create a clear path forward while addressing pain points and aligning with strategic goals.
Tips on managing and improving your enterprise architecture
Like buildings, organizations require regular maintenance and routine upgrades. Technology and goals change over time, so enterprise architecture needs to be flexible. How do you ensure that your EA stays relevant and useful? Here are a few tips:
- Instead of trying to document every small detail of your organization, concentrate your efforts on the changes that will deliver the most business value. Eighty percent of your results often come from 20% of your efforts. For example, if upgrading one core system can improve efficiency across multiple teams, prioritize that instead of spending time documenting minor processes. Remember, perfection is the enemy of "good enough." Prioritize actions that move the organization closer to its goals, rather than getting stuck in endless analyses.
- Don't treat EA as being about technology alone. Rather, make sure that EA also addresses the processes and information flows that represent the business structure of the organization. Engage across the organization to understand the priority problems to solve and the new opportunities to explore.
Summary
Enterprise architecture (EA) involves having a clear plan that aligns an organization's people, processes, information and technology toward achieving common goals. It's an organization's blueprint. Enterprise architecture provides a view on where the organization is today, where it wants to go, and the steps to getting there. While EA strives to provide guidance to an organization, sometimes business priorities require actions to be taken outside that guidance, and EA is as much about adapting as it is about guiding.
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