Art of Enterprise Architecture 1

If you survey job titles for architects, you will find many interesting titles, like Java Architect, Storage Architect, Middleware Architect, etc. Basically you can add ?architect’ at the end of any IT role. This group of architects are specialists in their own field and they are very technology focused. They are not responsible for enterprise architecture. Their main concern is their own domain. They don’t even have to know what’s happening in the other part of the company.

Enterprise Architect (EA), the custodian of the enterprise architecture, is often misunderstood as a person who knows a lot about enterprise technologies. However, EA is more than a technologist. He/she is a change agent, a business adviser and an IT enabler. Soft skills like influencing, negotiation, leadership, communication are key to the success of this role and thus the execution of enterprise architecture.

Technology is the easiest part of enterprise architecture practice. The art of getting buy-in and enterprise implementation is the challenge.

Nestan’s EA Value Model is the methodology used to establish EA capability in the company. It helps to unlock the power and values of enterprise architecture in the IT Value Chain, and acts as an useful marketing tool to sell the values and services of EA to the business and IT communities.