Module 2 - Enterprise Architecture – An Introduction Flashcards
What is the definition of an Enterprise?
An enterprise is a collection of organizations that has a common set of goals.
What is the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010: 2011 definition of Architecture?
The fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment embodied in its elements, relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolution.
What is the TOGAF definition of Architecture?
The structure of components, their inter-relationships, and the principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over time.”
What is the definition of Enterprise Architecture?
Enterprise architecture focuses on a long term view on goals, opportunities, and challenges facing the organization.
What is the definition of Solution Architecture?
Solution architecture is focused on the development of a specific solution and how technology is used.
What is the difference between Enterprise Architecture and Solution Architecture?
Enterprise Architecture considers the enterprise as
a whole and determines the boundaries within which solutions should be designed. It is very much
comparable with city planning.
Solution Architecture is concerned with defining a solution within the time, resource and scope constraints given. It is much more comparable with building architecture.
Just as the building needs to fit within the city plan, the solution architecture needs to fit within the enterprise
architecture.
What is the difference between Architecture and Design?
Architecture provides the bigger picture, the overview, and covers a wider scope of development. It defines the linkages between domains and systems. Architecture focuses on operationalizing the
strategy, structure, and purpose using frameworks, goals, principles, and methodologies.
Design, on the other hand, has a relatively smaller scope of development. It defines the linkages
between various parts of a system. Design focuses on implementation and practice of a particular
task at hand, given the immediate goals and constraints.
Architecture is about taking decisions on essential elements of the strategy while design focuses on
implementation details. Architecture provides the overview while design provides the details.
In short, architecture is about doing the right things and design is about doing things right.
What is the purpose of Enterprise Architecture?
The purpose of Enterprise Architecture is to optimize across the enterprise the often fragmented
legacy of processes (both manual and automated) into an integrated environment that is responsive
to change and supportive of the delivery of the business strategy.
Enterprise Architecture also aligns the IT supply to the demands of the business, and in doing so, it optimizes
the service portfolio of an enterprise. As the bigger picture gets clear, it is easier to identify the
projects that contribute to the business strategy of an enterprise. Architecture also improves the
quality of individual solutions and simplifies their development and maintenance.
What are the business benefits of enterprise architecture?
Helps an enterprise achieve its business strategy.
Shortens time to market for new innovations and capabilities.
Provides consistent business processes and information across business units.
Improves reliability and security, and reduces risk.
What are the IT benefits of enterprise architecture?
Increases the efficiency of business and IT operations.
Provides better return on existing investment.
Reduces risk for future investment.
Ensures faster and simpler procurement.
How does enterprise architecture help an Enterprise Achieve its Business Strategy?
In order to comprehend where an enterprise stands, the enterprise must understand its business, information, and technical architectures so that investments can be channeled towards achieving strategic business goals.
How does enterprise architecture shorten the time to market for new innovations and capabilities?
Clear understanding of the enterprise and its functioning helps in quicker introduction and faster adoption of new technologies and functionalities.
How does enterprise architecture provides consistent business processes and information across business units?
The known information can smoothly move across business units, thereby increasing the opportunities to reuse and integrate applications.
How does enterprise architecture improve reliability and security, while also reducing risk?
Clear traceability between business processes, data, user roles, applications, and infrastructure translates into a reliable architecture model. A reliable architecture model translates into better security policies and risk mitigation plans.
How does enterprise architecture increase the efficiency of business and IT operations?
Lowers software development, support, and maintenance costs; increases portability between applications, simplifies management of systems and networks, improves the ability to address critical enterprise-wide issues, and makes upgrade and exchange of system components easier.
