It's time to make Enterprise Architecture lean
The advent of lean processes from Toyota in the last century have had a long ranging impact. From just-in-time inventory to total quality management to agile software development, businesses that have adopted techniques based on what we now call “Lean Principles” are more successful, more dynamic, and quicker to market than businesses that continue with “top down” thinking often taught in business schools.
As we examine everything from supply chains to software licensing systems to find the core value proposition, stripping away steps and processes that add no value while focusing on building systems that resist human error, enterprise architects are often part of the team engaged in bringing these principles to life. We are in the mix.
However, Enterprise Architecture, as an overall practice, has resisted the call to become lean itself. It is time to break that impasse. It is time for the processes of Enterprise Architecture to become lean.
Now I’m far from the first person to suggest this idea. But there seems to be a lack of understanding of what we mean when we say “lean.” For example, I?found an article from 2015?that suggests a BDUF (Big Design Up Front) activity as Lean Enterprise Architecture using TOGAF 9.1. I have a very difficult time seeing a Design activity as lean. At the other end of the spectrum, an architect named Eero Hosiaisluoma from Finland developed?an entire lean architectural framework?for Enterprise Architecture based heavily on the concepts of Lean along with Archimate 3 and the EA platform LeanIX.
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My objective is to join the conversation and to “land in the middle” between these two extremes. I am a fan of agile development methods like Scrum and Kanban but I recognize them as the software derivations of business process philosophies. I will look at the underlying business philosophy and apply it to Enterprise Architecture, hoping to re-educate and re-orient myself (and you, dear reader, if you will embark on a journey with me) to a leaner, more value driven approach.
Over the course of a series of articles, I will discuss the various elements of what I will call Agile EA (or aEA), a role that I’d like to see replace the typical Enterprise Architect role in IT organizations. Along the way, I will attempt to answer key questions about EA from the perspective of a lean practices.
This article first published on the Vanguard EA blog: We Must Make Enterprise Architecture Lean - Vanguard EA
CEO
3 年Additionally, while PEAF defines and exposes the factors that would MOTIVATE management to adopt (proper) EA, it also defines and exposes factors that DEMOTIVATE management... This is the first one. Page forward for more... Do you assume adoption of a framework means you need to throw all your current processes away? Does the management of your Enterprise assume adoption of a framework means you need to throw all your current processes away? https://pragmatic365.org/display-show.asp?ComponentNo=000804 FREE EA Training at www.PEAF.com/Training FREE EA Books at www.PEAF.com/Books #PEAF #PragmaticEA #EntArch #enterprisearchitecture #BizArch #Change #Innovation #BusinessModel #CEO #Strategy #TOGAF #ITgovernance #agileculture #agile #agileleadership #agilemethodology #itstrategy #ceos
CEO
3 年As you know, The Pragmatic EA Framework has been doing and advocating this since 2008. Deming is referenced in PEAF. I dont think it matters what name you add or use to represent EA. The problem is cultural. There are 30 major risks which mean EA (proper EA) is unlikely to be adopted or used properly... Which of these bricks of misconception exist in your Enterprise? What are the top 5? What will you do to address them? Who in your Enterprise hates EA? What do you need to do to stop them hating EA? What cultural risks, related to EA, exist in your Enterprise? What effect are they having on your EA capability and its output? Who is Accountable and Responsible for managing them? https://pragmatic365.org/display-show.asp?ComponentNo=000600 FREE EA Training at www.PEAF.com/Training FREE EA Books at www.PEAF.com/Books #PEAF #PragmaticEA #EntArch #enterprisearchitecture #BizArch #Change #Innovation #BusinessModel #CEO #Strategy #TOGAF #ITgovernance #agileculture #agile #agileleadership #agilemethodology #itstrategy #ceos
Senior Enterprise Architect; Trombonist
3 年One of my fun games is to ask the Agile coaches we bring in if they've ever seen Enterprise Architecture properly integrated into Agile. The answer I always get is "Architectural epics!" and it stops there...
Optimist, Architect, Human
3 年I've been practicing lean architecture for 15 years. I thought I was past having to rebrand for the sake of good information. The system should match the nature of the organisation and objectives. Being overly agile in a highly controlled closed system would be catastrophic. Without a robust and consensualised transformation strategy. Same for trying to control emergent behaviour in an open system. Vice versa. And of course a boat load of other things.
TINE | Senior Prosjektleder | Styring, Risiko & Etterlevelse
3 年Nick Malik look forward to read :) Will you involve the Cynefin concept? Myself, working a lot in the business architecture and especially much with processes find that helpfull.