Profession of Enterprise Architect

1. Profession of Enterprise Architect Vineet S Rajput Vice President, Bank of America Vineet.S.Rajput@Bankofamerica.com

2. Agenda • What is Enterprise Architecture • Understanding Architecture • What are different types of IT architects • What is an enterprise architect • Application of Enterprise Architecture • When do we use it • Who uses it • Execution of Enterprise Architecture • Why do we need it? • When do we need it? • When will we use it? • Who should be involved in the effort? • Skills & tools for an enterprise architect

3. Pop Quiz! • Enterprise Architecture is designing applications using J2EE, .Net, or similar technologies False • Enterprise Architecture is a way to Organize Enterprise Data to facilitate integration False • Enterprise Architecture is a way to Design IT Systems False

4. Myth & Reality • Myth: • It is a way to design IT systems • It is a way to organize Data • It is a way to develop Java applications (J2EE! & Java certified enterprise architect) • Reality: • It is “Enterprise” Architecture • It involves overall documentation & management of all aspects of Enterprise • It is a Business issue, not just an IT issue • It has nothing to do with Java!

5. What is Architecture

6. How is a Building Built • Client / End user has a need • Client discusses his needs & taste with an architect • The architect ‘designs’ the building considering • Explicit requirements by the client • Explicit requirements by regulators (city rules etc.) • Implicit requirements of lot location, environment etc. • Implicit requirements that the building must look good and can be built • The structural engineer designs the house structure • It complies with architects ‘design’ • Can be built with existing technologies • Will be strong enough for desired use • The designer creates the embellishments like • Exterior surfacing • Interior colors • Cabinets, Fixtures etc.

7. Points to note • All of the above are ‘required’ in each building • Multiple roles may be played by the same person • The skill set required for each role is distinct • A building will fail if it lacks in any one of the aspects Strength Requirements Construction Function Beauty

8. Leaning tower of Pisa • Great design • Would meet functional requirements • Poor structural strength Result: • It was never completed

9. Winchester House • Sound structural design • Decorated beautifully • Lacks functional design Result: • Legendary status as a non-functional monument

10. Museum of Louvre • Highly functional design • Structurally sound • Beautiful Result • Considered a masterpiece

11. IT system delivery cycle • Client identifies a need • Architect creates a functional ‘design’ • Engineers creates the structure of the system • Software engineers design application • Network engineers design infrastructure • User experience designer creates the aesthetics • Developers build the systems Strength (Robustness) Requirements Construction Function Beauty (Aesthetics)

12. Role of an Architect • Ensure system meets the functional needs • Ensure system meets the implicit non-functional needs • Ensure system meets the standards • Legal / Regulatory standards • Industry standards • Company standards • Ensure the system is “engineerable”

13. Types of Architects

14. Types of Architects • Business Architect • Application/ Solutions Architect • Information/ Data Architect • Infrastructure Architect • Enterprise Architect

15. Business Architect • Ensures that the business processes and strategies can support the business functions. • Primarily concerned with business processes & organizations • This role may have only peripheral interest in IT • A business architect may focus on one process at a time.

16. Application/ Solutions Architect • Responsible for understanding the business functions and translating them into implementable systems. • Primarily concerned with individual systems and their interface with ‘neighboring’ systems. • Not really concerned with the big picture or the whole enterprise.

17. Data/ Information Architect • Responsible for ensuring that the data is organized properly and supports the solutions. • The responsibility may be across many systems in order to ensure that multiple systems can work together.

18. Infrastructure Architect • Concerned about the physical IT infrastructure of the company • This role is concerned with aspects like resource capacity, network capacity, server clustering, administration, and security. • The focus may be enterprise wide or departmental

19. Enterprise Architect • A big picture role. • Responsible for the overall framework to ensure that all other roles can work in sync. • Ensures that the work of all the architects is a cohesive whole. • Ensures that results are aligned with the business direction. • Sets the strategic direction, manages risks, defines standards and maintains cross organization communication.

20. “Official” Definition • Enterprise Architecture (EA) links the business mission, strategy, and processes of an organization to its IT strategy. It is documented using multiple architectural models or views that show how the current and future needs of an organization will be met The Final White Paper on Enterprise Architecture US Chief Information Officers Council

21. But! • This is the still an IT Centric view of Enterprise Architecture Because • This definition was created for the CIOs • Most of today’s enterprises are information centric However • True EA must deal with the WHOLE enterprise • EA may create/ improve solutions with little or no IT involvement

22. Application of Enterprise Architecture

23. When do we use EA • Enterprises use it Every day! • Change management • Strategy planning • Requirement analysis • Cost & schedule estimation • Regulatory compliance & certification • Enterprise wide planning reporting • Knowledge sharing

24. How to utilize Documented EA? • Day to Day operations & management • Creating a managed strategy of evolution • Process change • System & technology change • Tactical planning • Requirement validation for projects • Process, system, and technology traceability • Risk assessment & management • Regulatory compliance monitoring & reporting • Mergers & Acquisitions: evaluating the partner against stated goals for acquisition

25. Who can benefit from it • Owners: for understanding the overall enterprise • Business leaders: for setting directions • Planners: for strategy & tactical planning • Managers: for managing risks, costs, priorities, & timelines • Implementers: for evaluating alternatives & achievement of objectives

26. Implementing Enterprise Architecture

27. Why do we need Enterprise Architecture • Regulatory/ Legal reasons • Under Clinger-Cohen act, all federal govt. projects need Enterprise Architecture • EA can help with Sarbanes Oxley requirements • Financial institutions may use EA for operational risk management under Basel II • IT strategy planning • Enterprise change management • Operational risk assessment/ mitigation

28. When do we need it? • All the time • The sooner the better • The alternative • Trial and error • Demolish and restart

29. What does an Enterprise Architect do? • Create portfolio: Current & Future states of • Goals & Strategies • Locations • Organizations • Functions & processes • Physical & knowledge assets • Create standards & processes for • Documenting the portfolio • Keeping portfolio current • Perform gap analysis and solution evaluation • Creation of solution

30. The Enterprise Architecture process • Document baseline: the as-is state • What we have: Physical, Intellectual, and Data assets • How we do things: Functions & processes • Where: Physical and logical locations associated with processes • Who: Roles, organizations & persons associated with processes • Understand reason for change: drivers, strategies & timelines. • Design Future state • Identify gaps & create migration strategy

31. The Enterprise Architecture Tools • Knowledge Collection • Databases, Word, Groupware • Portfolio repository for knowledge assets • Popkin, Troux etc. • Process modeling tools • IDS-Scheer Aris, Visio etc. • Analysis & traceability tools • Excel, Popkin, minitab etc. • Communication tools • E-mail, Websites, Powerpoint etc.

32. Who should be involved in definition • Senior managers/ execs, both IT & business • Strategy planners • Process improvement specialists • Technology SMEs

33. Functions of Enterprise Architect Understand Goals & Strategies Analyze Strategies & Requirements Synthesize Solutions Communicate To Stakeholders Communication Domain Knowledge Environment Knowledge Communication Domain Knowledge Environment Knowledge Technology Knowledge Communication Domain Knowledge Environment Knowledge Technology Knowledge Communication Domain Knowledge Environment Knowledge Govern/ Control Communication Policing

34. Communication Learn Listen Understand Critique Translate Champion Envision Educate Mediate Police/ Enforce Document Present Domain Knowledge Understand Spot trends Translate Model Process Knowledge Analysis Technology Knowledge Technology Environment Spot trends Methodologies Tools Design solutions Skills for an enterprise architect

35. Summary • An Architect is ensures the functional integrity of a system • Enterprise Architect is responsible for the functional integrity of WHOLE Enterprise • Good architecture is the foundation of a strong enterprise • Architecture documentation is necessary to manage change • A savvy business leader is the best Enterprise Architect

36. Is it a surprise then that Bill Gates is an “Architect” of Microsoft

37. Questions