Abstract
Analyzing the Current Trends in Enterprise Architecture FrameworksBrian H. Cameron and Eric McMillanAbstractEnterprise Architecture (EA) is gaining additional visibility and importance, and it is attaining higher levels of influence within many organizations today (Brownet al. 2010). As the importance and stature of EA grows, so too does the number of frameworks proposed to support the work of EA. This proliferation has led to an increasing challenge within organizations to develop a process for selecting the correct framework that best fits their unique needs, culture, and goals. Traditionally, EA frameworks have been used to facilitate alignment (Kaplan & Norton 2006) between the strategic goals and direction of the organization and the IT that supports the business units within the organization. This alignment process is a critical component to support the continued growth and success of a firm (Cuenca et al. 2010; Pombinho et al. 2012; Singh & Woo 2009). Despite several research studies that focused on a direct comparison of EA frameworks (Alghamdi 2009; McCarthy 2006; Tang et al. 2004; Urbaczewski & Mrdalj 2006a), there have been few studies aimed at capturing the information needed to support organizations in their decision-making process when selecting an EA framework (Armour et al. 1999). Also, as the usage of frameworks continues to mature within organizations, there has been little research conducted that documents the trends of both the usage and maturity of using frameworks within organizations. This research compares the attributes of various EA frameworks and provides a method to assist organizations in their efforts to choose an EA framework for their organization. The basis of this research is a survey that contains the responses from 276 participants whose job roles and responsibilities directly reflected working in EA within their organizations. This research was conducted in collaboration with leading EA industry associations, and the survey results provide a view of the current landscape of EA framework usage by a wide range of respondents worldwide and throughout many different organizations. The aim is that the inferences drawn from this survey will help support recommendations on a process that can be used to assist with the selection of an EA framework by organizations.
Keywords
Enterprise Architecture Framework, Survey, Hybrid Approach
Acknowledgements
The authors of this article would like to thank the industry associations that supported this research: The Open Group, the Association of Enterprise Architects (AEA), the Association for Enterprise Integration (AFEI), the Industry Advisory Council (IAC) – Enterprise Architecture Shared Interest Group (SIG), the Object Management Group (OMG), the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), and Gartner.
About the authors
Brian H. Cameron PhD is Executive Director of the Center for Enterprise Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University.
Eric McMillan is a PhD student at the Pennsylvania State University.
References
A.S. Alghamdi: Evaluating Defense Architecture Frameworks for C4I System Using Analytic Hierarchy Process, Journal of Computer Science, 5(12), 1075-1081 (2009).
F. Armour, S. Kaisler, S. Liu: A Big-Picture Look at Enterprise Architecture, IT Professional, 1(1), 35-42 (1999).F.J. Armour, S.H. Kaisler, H. Stephen, S.Y. Liu: Building an Enterprise Architecture Step By Step. IT Professional Vol. 1, No. 4, 31-39 (July/August 1999); refer to: www.computer.org/portal/web/csdl/doi/10.1109/6294.781623doi:10.1109/6294.781623.
R.S. Bittler, G. Kriezman: Gartner Enterprise Architecture Process: Evolution (2005); refer to: my.gartner.com/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=256&mode=2&PageID=2350940&docCode=130849&ref=docDisplay.
D.P. Brown: Enterprise Architecture for DoD Acqusition, Acquisition Review Quarterly (Spring 2000).L. Cuenca, A. Ortiz, A. Boza: Business and IS/IT Strategic Alignment Framework, presented at the Doctoral Conference on Computing, Electrical, and Industrial Sytems (2010).
J. Flyzik Jr., S.W. Hall, J. Sullivan, R. C. Thomas: Treasury Enterprise Architecture Framework, Washington, DC (2000); retrieved from www.cioindex.com/SearchResults/tabid/144/Default.aspx?Search=Department+of+Treasury.F. Goethals: An Overview of Enterprise Architecture Framework Deliverables, SAP (2005); retrieved from www.econ.kuleuven.be/leerstoel/sap/downloads/Goethals%20Overview%20existing%20frameworks.pdf.
R.S. Kaplan, D.P. Norton, David P.: Alignment Using the Balanced Scorecard to Create Corporate Synergies, Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation (2006).
A. Lapkin, P. Allega, B. Burke, B. Burton, R.S. Bittler, R.A. Handler, N. Gall: Gartner Clarifies the Definition of the Term ”Enterprise Architecture” (2008); refer to: my.gartner.com/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=256&mode=2&PageID=2350940&resId=740712&ref=QuickSearch&sthkw=gartner+clarifies+the+definition+of+the+term+enterprise+architecture.
Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF), Washington, DC; retrieved from www.cio.gov/documents/fedarch1.pdf.
S. Leist, G. Zelner: Evaluation of Current Architecture Frameworks, presented at the ACM Symposium on Applied Computing, Dijon, France (2006).
N. Lim, T-G. Lee, S-G. Park: A Comparative Analysis of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks based on EA Quality Attributes, presented at the 10th ACIS International Conference on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligences, Networking, and Parallel/Distributed Computing, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea (2009).
R.V. McCarthy: Toward a Unified Enterprise Architecture Framework: An Analytical Evaluation, Issues in Information Systems, VII(2) (2006).Officer, DoD Deputy Chief Information: Department of Defense Architecture Framework, Washington, DC (2010); retrieved from http://dodcio.defense.gov/dodaf20.aspx.The TOGAF® Standard (2011),
The Open Group; retrieved from http://pubs.opengroup.org/architecture/togaf9-doc/arch/.
J. Pombinho, D. Aveiro, J. Tribolet: A Value-Oriented Approach to Business/IT Alignment – Towards Formalizing Purpose in System Engineering Advanced Information Systems Engineering Workshops (pp.555-566), Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (2012).
J.W. Ross, P. Weill, D.C. Robertson: Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business, Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School Publishing (2006).
J. Schekkerman: How to Survive in the Jungle of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks: Creating or Choosing an Enterprise Architecture Framework (2nd Ed.), Oxford: Trafford Publishing (2003).
S.N. Singh, C. & Woo: Investigating Business-IT Alignment through Multi-Disciplinary Goal Concepts, presented at Requirements Engineering (2009).
A. Tang, J. Hang, P. Chen: A Comparative Analysis of Architecture Frameworks, 1-17 (2004); refer to: www.horizonssoftware.com/dataadmin/dataadminimages/downloads/7file.pdf.
P. Turner, J. Gøtze, P. Bernus: Architecting the Firm – Coherency and Consistency in Managing the Enterprise, presented at Enterprise Architecture, Integration, Interoperability ,and Networking (EAI2N), Brisbane, Australia (2010).
L. Urbaczewski, S. Mrdalj: A Comparison of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks, Issues in Information Systems, 7(2) (2006a).
L. Urbaczewski, S. Mrdalj: A Comparison of Enterprise Architecture Frameworks, Issues in Information Systems, VII(2), 6 (2006b).
J.A. Zachmam: A Framework for Information Systems Architecture, IBM Systems Journal, 26, 454-470 (1999).
J.A. Zachman: Concepts of the Framework for Enterprise Architecture: Background, Description, and Utility, Zachman International (1993).
J.A. Zachman: Enterprise Architecture: The Issue of the Century, Zachman International (1996).
J.A. Zachman: John Zachman’s Concise Definition of the Zachman Framework (pp.1-1), La Canada, CA: Zachman International (2008).
Journal of Enterprise Architecture