Abstract
Enterprise architecture (EA) documents current conditions, future visions, and the transition plan between them. It pertains to and encompasses one or all of the following: programs, offices, segments, solutions, departments, lines of business, and agencies. IT acquisition management (ITAM) includes the set of tasks required to accomplish the directed and funded efforts to provide a new, improved, or continuing information system or services capability to satisfy a business need. Thus, an EA contains business operation information for decision support and communication and informs decision-makers about what technology to acquire and when. This article illustrates how a technical architecture can both provide a clear picture of the technical goals that lie ahead for the enterprise, as well as providing decision support to selecting and acquiring a product that will help satisfy the organizational requirements and scheduling needs.
Keywords
Enterprise Architecture, Technical Architecture, Acquisitions, DoD Architecture Framework
About the authors
Russell S. Boyd is a Senior Manager in the Deloitte Consulting Technology, Strategy, and Architecture Service Line. His focus is on developing the methods and offerings for the Deloitte Federal approach to Enterprise Architecture & Investment.
Brian Boynton is a Senior Consultant in the Deloitte Consulting Technology, Strategy, and Architecture Service Line. He is currently the Enterprise Architect on a major federal acquisition program where he is focused on supporting interoperability amongst different architecture tools to promote a more seamless integration between Enterprise Architecture and Software Engineering.
References
R. Boyd, S. Geiger: Enterprise Architecture and Information Technology Acquisition Management, in Journal of Enterprise Architecture, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp43-47 (2010).
DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF), V2.0: http://dodcio.defense.gov/sites/dodaf20.
OMB 2010: Office of Management and Budget, 25-Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management, Vivek Kundra: www.cio.gov/documents/25-Point-Implementation-Plan-to- Reform-Federal%20IT.pdf.
President’s Budget FY 2011: Analytical Perspectives, Special Topics, Chapter 19.
Journal of Enterprise Architecture