Enterprise Architecture

We know that the right Enterprise Architecture capabilities deliver tactical and strategic business advantage. We know that Enterprise Architecture functions can be perceived as disconnected from the business and slow to respond to the increasing demands of the digital world. The CxO community can feel ‘let down’ by Architecture, which at times appears overly academic, introspective and lacking in agility, pragmatism and innovative thinking. Our philosophy and approach responds to this disconnect, championing the pragmatic and agile adoption of Enterprise Architecture alongside new ways of working and structured problem solving.

Summary of Core Capabilities

Our Enterprise Architecture Philosophy

There is often ambiguity as to the purpose, remit and ultimate value proposition of Enterprise Architecture. Enterprise Architecture as a discipline and profession must respond to increasing velocity and complexity of change. Enterprise Architecture and Enterprise Architects must understand opportunities and pressures to adapt in response to customer need and increasing digital disruption. This must be managed against a backdrop of established business operations and existing technology investments.

 

Despite its seeming mystique, Enterprise Architecture is a set of capabilities and techniques that aid in problem solving. Enterprise Architecture should deliver better decisions, faster.

Agile Focus
We believe in Agile Architecture delivery, combing an Agile methodology (such as Scrum) with the TOGAF (or similar) Architecture Development Method. TOGAF ADM cycles and deliverables can be delivered in Agile Sprints. Architecture delivery aligns well with Agile ceremonies and informed stakeholders can act as Product Owners for key architectural deliverables. The discipline of Agile ensures that clear ‘definitions of done’ are agreed and observed. The priorities of the architecture team can also quickly be reset in Sprint planning (or if necessary in daily stand ups).
Governance Focus

Directing and assuring change lies at the core of Enterprise Architecture. Failing architecture functions have often created a ‘governance industry’ and drown in self-generating bureaucracy. This is also typified by ‘governing at the wrong granularity’ with too much intervention in low-level detail.

Transformation Focus
Enterprise Architecture is fundamental to successful business and IT transformation. New, retired and uplifted capabilities and services are being continuously managed through transformation and transitions. Enterprise Architecture must help solve the challenge of where, when and how to invest, rationalise or retire services, products, platforms, applications and capabilities. A well organised architecture function provides immense value in understanding trade-offs and dependencies in a complex constraint based plan. The innovative capabilities of the function help generate new options to negate constraints and support bolder change with lower friction.
Methodological Focus
Methodologies and frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, Zachman, COBIT, ITIL) must be adapted and implemented pragmatically. Frameworks codify best practice and provide a common language and approach across industry. The corpus of high-value content that an architecture function develops, uses, maintains and shares is a good indicator of its long term sustainability and value.

Our Core Service Offerings

Architecture Capability Reviews
Architecture Capability Reviews
Agile Archicture Coaching
Interim Architecture Leadership
Full TOGAF ADM Lifecycle (from Architecture Vision to implemented change)
Domain Architecture Development (across Business, Application, Information, Technology, Integration and Security domains) – using Agile methods

Enterprise Architecture Consulting Services

Summary of Core Capabilities

We have expertise across all TOGAF domains (Business Architecture, Application Architecture, Data Architecture and Technology Architecture) as well as Web Oriented Architecture, Event Driven Architecture and Service Oriented Architecture and Security Architecture.

Frameworks, standards and tools:

Architecture Frameworks: TOGAF v9, Zachman, MODAF
Modelling Languages: ArchiMate v2, UML
Architecture Tools: Sparx EA, MooD, Orbus iServer, OpenText
Delivery methods: Agile Architecture using Scrum
Standards: ITIL, COBIT, Six Sigma

Frameworks, standards and tools:

Architecture Frameworks: TOGAF v9, Zachman, MODAF
Modelling Languages: ArchiMate v2, UML
Architecture Tools: Sparx EA, MooD, Orbus iServer, OpenText
Delivery methods: Agile Architecture using Scrum
Standards: ITIL, COBIT, Six Sigma

Business Architecture

  • Target Operating Model
  • Capability Modelling
  • Skills Baseline and Upskilling
  • Benefits Modelling and Realisation
  • Requirements elicitation and Management
  • Business Process Modelling (BPMN)
  • Business Process Improvement
  • Organisational Design and Sizing
  • Organisational Transformation
  • Case for Change
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Management
  • Communications
  • Human Factors

Integration Architecture

  • Microservices
  • Synthetic APIs
  • BPM/Workflow
  • Event Driven Architecture, Event Correlation
  • Integration Patterns, styles and protocols including SOA, ESB, RESTful Services
  • Open Source and leading vendor middleware products including: TIBCO, IBM, Oracle, JBOSS

Security Architecture

  • TOGAF and SABSA
  • CESG Good Practice Guides (GPG)
  • Defence Standards (Joint Service Publications)
  • Risk assessments, countermeasures, security controls
  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Identity and access Management
  • Business Continuity, resilient and highly available systems

Application Architecture

  • Application Modernisation
  • Application Rationalisation
  • Application Strategy
  • DevOps
  • Open Source
  • Behaviour Driven Development

Data Architecture

  • E/R Modelling
  • Master Data Management
  • Data Quality
  • Business Intelligence and Analytics
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Technology Architecture

  • Cloud Strategy
  • Infrastructure Strategy