Archive for May, 2010

  • The best technical solution is useless if it can't be communicated by its creator or effectively championed in the face of opposition. Architecture places a premium on the ability to effectively analyze, design and communicate the architecture to those who would actually build it. Sadly too many in our profession have the title of architect while lacking this essential ingredient.

    The Right Stuff

    The best technical solution is useless if it can't be communicated by its creator or effectively championed in the face of opposition. Architecture places a premium on the ability to effectively analyze, design and communicate the architecture to those who would actually build it. Sadly too many in our profession have the title of architect while lacking this essential ingredient.

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  • If you're being measured against the standard of business success, why wouldn't you want to perform as best you can in support of those metrics? If I'm the application architect, it should be in my self-interest to promote the best solution available to meet the requirements put forth by the business. Why would I actively pursue some other plan that ultimately does nothing to enhance my value to the organization?

    We Are All The Business Now

    If you're being measured against the standard of business success, why wouldn't you want to perform as best you can in support of those metrics? If I'm the application architect, it should be in my self-interest to promote the best solution available to meet the requirements put forth by the business. Why would I actively pursue some other plan that ultimately does nothing to enhance my value to the organization?

    Continue Reading...

  • When the demonstrable benefits of using an enterprise approach are self-evident to project teams, magic happens. There is this notion of street cred when it comes to how this stuff operates. I call this the soft power approach. It is very socially intensive. It involves a lot of time spent building relationships with project teams, business owners and segment leaders. It is all about invisible metrics.

    The Soft Power of EA

    When the demonstrable benefits of using an enterprise approach are self-evident to project teams, magic happens. There is this notion of street cred when it comes to how this stuff operates. I call this the soft power approach. It is very socially intensive. It involves a lot of time spent building relationships with project teams, business owners and segment leaders. It is all about invisible metrics.

    Continue Reading...

  • I want to spend some time relating some of the things I've learned about working with enterprise architecture. There are far too many people running around calling themselves enterprise architects with no clue what it actually means. I think the IT industry itself does a poor job as a whole understanding the needs of its most important customer, the business. Quite honestly, I think the industry might often be wrong.

    Why Talk About EA?

    I want to spend some time relating some of the things I've learned about working with enterprise architecture. There are far too many people running around calling themselves enterprise architects with no clue what it actually means. I think the IT industry itself does a poor job as a whole understanding the needs of its most important customer, the business. Quite honestly, I think the industry might often be wrong.

    Continue Reading...