Enterprise Architecture (EA) is the fundamental principle on which Ovations delivers holistic business transformation services to clients.
EA provides a means to ensure that the enablement of an organisation is structured in a manner that effectively aligns operational business strategy, organisational structures, business processes and information with IT strategy and the resulting investments organisations make in software solutions and IT infrastructures.
Ovations primarily aligns to the TOGAF and Zachman EA frameworks in structuring EA initiatives. We also recognise that the essence of the successful operation of businesses lies in a skilled and efficient workforce and have expanded standard EA reference frameworks to include a people architecture domain, ensuring that change management and organisational development is also included as a formal discipline in business transformation efforts.
Ovations defines four domain focuses for holistic EA definition:
- Business Architecture
- Information Systems Architecture
- Technology Architecture
- People Oriented Architecture
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Our Approach
Research has shown that major transformation projects (such as BPM, ECM and ERP implementations) that are tackled without a holistic approach have a large probability of failure.
Ovations specialises in EA as it relates to the implementation of industry frameworks such as IBM CBM.
It is vital that a client environment that is conducive to change exists before a major transformation project can be attempted. Through the utilisation of TOGAF, our consultants deliver views of the business that reduce risk of failure by indentifying the impact that our initiatives will have on clients' business. For this to be done, it needs to be approached from all aspects of the business (Business Architecture, Information Systems Architecture and Technology Architecture).
Following an Enterprise Architecture allows us to introduce best practice to our solutions through the use of Reference Architectures.
Various Reference Architectures exist including:
- Industry Architectures
- Foundation Architectures
- Common Systems Architectures
- Organisation-Specific Architectures.
Our Offerings
Areas of expertise:
- Introducing and customising EA frameworks relevant to the domains that we work in
- Developing conceptual and logical architectures for clients
- Identification of relevant views and viewpoints for an organisation relevant to answering specific questions
- Development of standards for the modelling of EA views
- Aligning major transformation projects relating to ECM and BPM with Architecture Principles.
General Tools:
- TOGAF
- Zachman Framework
- Foundation, Common and Industry Reference Architectures
- Modelling Tools
- Implementation and project management methodologies
Benefits
Applying proper Enterprise Architecture principles promotes benefits such as:
- A more efficient IT operation
- Lower software development, support, and maintenance costs
- Increased portability of applications
- Improved interoperability and easier system and network management
- Improved ability to address critical enterprise-wide issues like security
- Easier upgrade and exchange of system components
- Better return on existing investment, reduced risk for future investment
- Reduced complexity in IT infrastructure
- Maximum return on investment in existing IT infrastructure
- The flexibility to make, buy, or out-source IT solutions
- Reduced risk overall in new investment, and the costs of IT ownership
- Faster, simpler, and cheaper procurement:
- Buying decisions are simpler, because the information governing procurement is readily available in a coherent plan
- The procurement process is faster - maximizing procurement speed and flexibility without sacrificing architectural coherence
- The ability to procure heterogeneous, multi-vendor open systems
- Alignment of processes across the organisation
- IT Governance to ensure compliance against business strategy
- Leveraging investment in IT in order to achieve business agility and competitive advantage
- The balance between IT Efficiency and Business Innovation
- Architecture asset management
Our Work
Our team of highly qualified consultants have gained extensive experience throughout many industries. Ovations’ customers include the following “blue chip” organisations:
- ABSA
- Zurich
- Mutual & Federal
- Murray & Roberts
- Standard Bank
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the biggest mistakes made in implementing Enterprise Architecture
A:
- Not being realistic with regards to the starting point for Enterprise Architecture.
- Not using an existing methodology as a starting point and then customising it as required.
- Not having dedicated resources to the Enterprise Architecture initiative within the organisation.
- Confusing EA with other methodologies and frameworks like E-TOM and RUP.
Q: What specifically would prompt the development of an enterprise architecture?
A:
- Typically, an enterprise architecture is developed because key people have concerns that need to be addressed by the IT systems within the organization. Such people are commonly referred to as the "stakeholders" in the system. The role of the architect is to address these concerns by identifying and refining the requirements that the stakeholders have, developing views of the architecture that show how the concerns and the requirements are going to be addressed, and by showing the trade-offs that are going to be made in reconciling the potentially conflicting concerns of different stakeholders.
- Without the enterprise architecture, it is highly unlikely that all the concerns and requirements will be considered and met.
Source: TOGAF.9.0
Q: Why do I need TOGAF as a framework for enterprise architecture?
A:
- TOGAF has been developed through the collaborative efforts of 300 Architecture Forum member companies from some of the world's leading IT customers and vendors and represents best practice in architecture development. Using TOGAF as the architecture framework will allow architectures to be developed that are consistent, reflect the needs of stakeholders, employ best practice, and give due consideration both to current requirements and to the likely future needs of the business.
- Architecture design is a technically complex process, and the design of heterogeneous, multi-vendor architectures is particularly complex. TOGAF plays an important role in helping to "de-mystify" and de-risk the architecture development process. TOGAF provides a platform for adding value, and enables users to build genuinely open systems-based solutions to address their business issues and needs.
Source: TOGAF.9.0
Q: Who would benefit from using TOGAF?
A:
- Any organization undertaking, or planning to undertake, the design and implementation of enterprise architecture for the support of mission-critical business applications will benefit from use of TOGAF.
- Organizations seeking Boundaryless Information Flow can use TOGAF to define and implement the structures and processes to enable access to integrated information within and between enterprises.
- Organizations that design and implement enterprise architectures using TOGAF are assured of a design and a procurement specification that can facilitate an open systems implementation, thus enabling the benefits of open systems with reduced risk.
Source: TOGAF.9.0
Q: What are the biggest mistakes companies make during change?
A:
- Not being directly involved with the project
- Not engaging all management levels in the change
- Sending inconsistent signals or not communicating enough
- Shifting focus or changing priorities too soon
- Not providing adequate resources
Q: What change management activities have the greatest impact on project success?
A:
- Open and consistent communication
- Personnel changes to support the new organisation
- Support from all levels of management
- Pre-implementation training of employees
Q: What are the benefits of supporting the change?
A:
- Enhanced respect and reputation within the organisation
- Improved growth opportunities (especially for active supporters of the change)
- Increased job satisfaction (knowing you are helping your organization respond effectively to a rapidly changing marketplace)
- Improved job security
Source: Prosci