EA Frameworks

An enterprise architecture framework (EA framework) defines how to organize the structure and views related to an enterprise architecture.

There are three components which are views, methods and training or experience in the enterprise architecture framework. Views provide the mechanisms for communicating information about the relationships that are important in the architecture. Methods provide the discipline to gather and organize the data and construct the views in a way that helps ensure integrity, accuracy and completeness; training/experience : support the application of method and use of tools.

Enterprise architecture frameworks are important for companies, especially, large companies and architecture frameworks are commonly used in IT and information system governance because some reasons. Firstly, the discipline of enterprise engineering and enterprise architecture is so broad, and enterprises can be large and complex, the models associated with the discipline also tend to be large and complex. Secondly, there is a complexity of information system commonly that leads to failure in IT adoption of enterprises. To manage the scope of EA and complexity of IS, an architecture framework provides tools and methods that can bring the task into focus and allow valuable artifacts to be produced when they are most needed. The framework helps companies save a lot of effort and costs since it leaves the architect focus on own Enterprise issues. It leads the EA to development predictably and repeatably.

There are several popular types of EA frameworks. Firstly, the Zachman framework is actually more accurately defined as a taxonomy. Secondly, the Open Group Architectural Framework (TOGAF) is actually more accurately defined as a process. Thirdly, the Federal Enterprise Architecture can be viewed as either an implemented enterprise architecture or a proscriptive methodology for creating an enterprise architecture. Lastly, the Gartner Methodology can be best described as an enterprise architectural practice.

Refrences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_architecture_framework

Lecture notes – Week 5