Enterprise
Architecture – More Than Just Standards
David Rudawitz
EITS
February 2004
Abstract
A far too common belief is that a set of standards for
hardware and applications is an organization’s enterprise architecture. Although it is true that hardware and
application standards are included, they are only a small component of a comprehensive enterprise architecture. An Enterprise Architecture is the description
and design of a portfolio of processes, applications, information and
their supporting technologies that enable business strategy. It addresses the structure of that portfolio
over time (current, tactical, strategic) and its interactions and linkages
through guidelines including principles, rules, patterns, reference models,
standards, initiatives,
governance structures and processes to use when building new IT
capability. To be truly effective,
organizations have to really understand and embrace the holistic concept of
enterprise architecture. Focusing solely
on
just the standards aspect greatly limits the benefits that an enterprise
can achieve.