PEAF Processes - Operate

The processes of “doing” Enterprise Architecture should not be viewed as introducing a whole new set of processes, roles and associated costs.

The art of “doing” Enterprise Architecture involves subtle changes to what organisations are currently doing. EA should be subsumed into an organisations existing structures and processes.

Where PEAF can help is exposing and illustrating how the different major parts of work and planning are connected with the main artefacts of EA, namely the models and governance.

This is why introducing Enterprise Architecture to an organisational is more of a cultural shift, and this is what makes it so difficult.

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Provide EA Education

This process takes the communication materials and communication plan that were created in the Implementation Phase, and executes the plan.

This process, coupled with the preparation work in the “Implementation” phase is the most important of all the processes.

Communication and education is one of the keys to mitigating many of the risks associated with adoption EA. For this reason. Good quality and continuous education is mandatory if Enterprise Architecture is to be a success.

If it is not done, or done badly, your EA initiative WILL FAIL.

Education and Training consists of two main areas.

1. Formal classroom based information and knowledge transfer. This is kind of education is required to be able to present and transfer key knowledge and information about Enterprise Architecture, what it is consists of and the mechanics of how to adopt and operate it.

2. Informal discussions, workshops and round tables. This kind of education is required because there will be many questions and reticence on the part of some groups or individuals consisting of worry’s misunderstandings and existing “baggage” that, if not tackled and tackled successfully, will totally undermine and erode an EA initiative.

Strategic Planning

This process is concerned with Annual Business Planning, which generally takes place once per year in preparation for the creation of the portfolio of projects that will need to be executed during the next financial year.

Strategic Planning can also be triggered at any time by large changes in the enterprises direction or priorities or in the business context that it operates within.

Modelling the Current State

This process is concerned with the population of the Current or “As-Is” model.

The organisation is on a constant journey responding to external and internal change and constantly evolving and re-shaping itself. In order to start any journey, one of the most important things to know is where you are starting from.

The Current model effectively documents the “problem space”. Once the current model is documented to a sufficient level, it usually becomes quite apparent not only what areas need attention but also what likely changes are needed to deal with them.

The current model also allows people to understand how change which is happening today will affect the enterprise today and tomorrow.

Performing Governance

The purpose of governance is to ensure that as change happens on a daily basis, that change is guided in accordance with the bigger strategic and long term picture of the enterprise.

Governance must not put up barriers and stop work from happening, but should allow decisions to be made in the context of the implications and the Enterprise Debt that may be incurred.

Even though strategic plans are put into place, it is not long into the financial year that events can overtake an enterprise where those plans need adjustment. In addition, by the time work gets down to the projects and programmes to carry out the work, the strategic intent can be easily lost amongst the (rightly) blinkered focus of projects.

Measure, Analyse & Adjust

This process is concerned with utilizing the metrics defined in the “Prepare” phase and gathering the associated data, analysing it to understand how effective the initiative is, and then to make necessary ongoing adjustments.

Plan

This file provides is an example Microsoft Project Plan for this processes above.