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Enterprise Architecture: The Key to Aligning IT with Business Strategy
In the world of IT management, one term that often gets misunderstood is “Enterprise Architecture” (EA). Contrary to what some may believe, EA is not about hardware architecture—it’s about understanding and planning for an organization's entire IT landscape. Surprisingly, it’s one of the least understood aspects of IT management, even among IT leaders.
The Essence of Enterprise Architecture
As defined by industry experts like Zachman, Enterprise Architecture begins with a deep understanding of the organization itself and the data that forms its informational backbone. Spewak and Hill, who further developed Zachman’s concepts, describe Enterprise Architecture Planning (EAP) as a process that defines the higher levels of the Information Systems Architecture Framework. Essentially, EAP is about creating a long-term, cost-effective strategy for managing data, applications, and technology, with significant input from management to ensure that business perspectives and goals are properly aligned.
At its core, a complete and effective architecture should encompass at least four views: Work Processes, Applications, Information, and Technology (WAIT). Some experts also suggest adding a fifth view: Organizational Architecture.
