ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE
"Architecture is basically a container of something. I hope they will enjoy not so much the teacup, but the tea."
Yoshio Taniguchi
Enterprise Architectures (EAs) are dynamic documents that help an agency define its business, the information necessary to operate the business, and the technology necessary to support the business operations. Properly employed, an EA can be a means to ensure transformation is understood, structured, scalable, and sustainable.
Despite the attention the federal community gives to EA, many fail because they simply "blueprint" existing organizational processes or worse, build "check the box" architectures – architectures that are developed to simply address compliance or obtaining / defend funding.
At COMPENDIUM, we take a different approach - one that is not merely a compliance-driven, blueprinting exercise. We produce business-driven EAs - firmly rooted in the organization's mission, operations, and customers - to solve specific information technology (IT) and business problems.
To help structure our approach, we developed our own practice. The Compendium Agile Architecture Practice (CAAP) provides a structured, comprehensive process for evaluating the business needs first. Impact and consequences of changes in technology and business processes are driven with the business objectives in mind. This perspective ensures that an organization's IT applications, data, and system platforms align with its mission and business needs. We use CAAP to help agencies:
- Streamline business operations,
- Develop effective IT strategic plans,
- Drive the IT governance process and make sound investment decisions,
- Establish an EA program management office,
- Develop architectures compliant with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Federal Enterprise Architecture Program Management Office (FEA PMO) and Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF),
- Support acquisition and implementation activities
- Ensure data interoperability and standardization
An interesting observation is that enterprises have two organizational structures – the formal one documented by the organization and the informal one that people use to get things done. Enterprise architecture is a means to communicate and bridge the gap between where the business is today and where it will be in the future to achieve a proper balance of effectiveness and efficiency.
Our team includes master certified architects and participants in standards communities and bodies committed to developing open standards for technical and information interoperability. Because of our desire to adapt to each customer's priorities, we have accumulated broad experience using a variety of tools, including Systems Architect, iGrafx, Popkin, ARIS, and Troux Metis.
COMPENDIUM consultants have performed as EA experts and leads for the Air Force Undersecretary of Management (SAF/USM), the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Our consultants work shoulder-to-shoulder with our agency counterparts to deliver the architecture and analysis required to support their stated enterprise transformation and modernization goals.
More information about specific engagements where COMPENDIUM has delivered EA results that make a difference is available upon request.
