September 2nd, 2009
Enterprise architecture is for entrepreneurs, too
Mike Kavis asks an intriguing question: “Is enterprise architecture only for big companies?”
Small companies can’t afford to throw money away on the wrong systems
One’s first thought would be yes — it would seem that a larger organization would have a greater need for EA, since there are likely to be many systems, applications, and user groups to contend with, all under one roof. A small company, on the other hand, may be more homogeneous, with only one ERP system, one type of database, one platform, and so on. Plus, a large organization has lots of time and resources — including human resources — that can be devoted to EA planning and governance activities.
EA may be even more critical to small and medium-size companies than their larger counterparts. But there is a misconception that only big companies need EA. Mike reports that he is part of a startup with fewer than 20 employees, and yes, they are talking EA. He says Brenda Michelsen captured the misconceptions about EA perfectly in a within-140-character tweet: “Many equate EA w/jumbo frameworks & rigid governance, rather than set of values & practices for capability delivery.”
So, forget the heavy-handed frameworks, and look at what EA is really about:
“Enterprise Architecture is a complete expression of the enterprise; a master plan which ‘acts as a collaboration force’ between aspects of business planning such as goals, visions, strategies and governance principles; aspects of business operations such as business terms, organization structures, processes and data; aspects of automation such as information systems and databases; and the enabling technological infrastructure of the business such as computers, operating systems and networks (source: IFEAD – Institute for Enterprise Architecture Developments)”
There’s nothing in this definition that specifies large organizations. If anything, smaller companies may need a master plan to guide ongoing technology projects more than a large organization that can afford to waste money on shelfware or underutilized systems.
Mike observes that EA is effective at helping a small, entrepreneurial organization meet goals that may include business architecture, business roadmaps, and portfolio management that prioritizes what gets worked on and when.
Joe McKendrick is an author and consultant with deep knowledge and insights regarding trends and developments in the technology industry. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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