Enterprise Architecture. The most useful, most valuable, tool in a leader’s belt.

In our last article, Bryn Wales , our Head of Enterprise Architecture, laid out Enterprise Architecture (EA) as a decision-making superpower. One that helps you to better understand your organisation, to make more effective decisions.

In this article, we look at how that decision-making superpower is achieved through practical application of knowledge management and why EA becomes so important, especially at the top table.

EA, your organisation’s single documented knowledge resource, is a tool. A tool used by many people for many purposes. As with any tool, as we learn how to use it, it becomes even more useful.?

The main thing is to start using it.

Here are just some of the examples where Channel 3 Consulting have used this tool to add significant value:

• For CEOs, we use EA models to provide a comprehensive overview of how the organisation operates, enhancing strategic planning and alignment of capabilities to business objectives.
• For CFOs, we use EA models to help optimise costs and assess the financial implications of technology investments, leading to better financial management. Specifically, we have documented contracts, values, expiry dates and the assets to which they relate, supporting outsourcing arrangements, contract/supplier management and target operating models.
• For Chief Information Officers (CIOs), as well as CNIO/CCIOs in both clinical and nursing we use EA models as vital tools for aligning IT strategy and delivery with wider business goals and managing IT resources efficiently. We have mapped digital assets, data, flows of data (interoperability), relevant standards, the IT service management, operating models, the locations, the infrastructure and the users/business criticality/disaster recovery and business continuity.
• For Data Protection Officers (DPOs), we use EA to enable the mapping of data flows and storage, facilitating compliance with data protection regulations. We have used EA to document flows of information (typically between digital assets and other organisations or suppliers), the types of information and the associated controls such as Information Sharing Agreements (ISAs), legitimate proportional access, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and the underpinning standards and legislation.
• For cybersecurity professionals (e.g., CISO/SIRO/IAOs), we use EA to give a clear picture of the digital environment, which helps the cyber lead identify vulnerabilities and strengthen cybersecurity measures. We have mapped security boundaries, interoperability/transfers and triggers, infrastructure, the associated controls and third parties, ensuring security by design and often moving to zero-trust based security models.
• For clinical safety professionals (e.g., CSO/CNIO/CCIOs), we use EA to allow the understanding of system interactions, helping to identify and mitigate clinical safety risks. We have mapped risks and mitigations, users, processes, data quality and target operating models to assess, minimise and maintain safety.

Across all roles, we have mapped identity and access management (IAM), appropriate (least privilege) access and how we onboard, change and offboard people as they move through their careers.

All of these are different uses of the same EA, all are valid, and all are practical applications of knowledge management.

With everybody working from this same EA knowledge base, everybody is working to this single truth as the EA is used and updated.?

As an executive, having a robust EA is as important as having reliable management or business information reporting. If the organisational information you are relying on is from an Enterprise Architecture, you know that it is consistent with how your colleagues are working.

Wouldn’t that be useful? Easier? Simpler? Safer? Even cheaper? If you do not have a documented EA, now’s the time to start that journey to reduce risk and increase transparency.

At Channel 3 Consulting, we’re experts in digital transformation of the health and care sector, supported by our dedicated Enterprise Architecture team.

If you would like to find out more about how to start your EA journey or (if you have already started), how to make it your knowledge-based superpower, contact Bryn Wales, Head of Enterprise Architecture or Matthew Jones, Partner.

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