Leveraging Enterprise Architecture and Agile Values for DEI

Enterprise Architecture (EA) is a strategic discipline that provides a comprehensive view of an organization's key business processes, IT infrastructure, digital strategy and organizational structure. It serves as a blueprint that guides the organization's evolution and transformation by aligning its business strategy with its target operating model desired.

When combined with Agile values, EA can powerfully promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within organizations, particularly those operating on a global scale.

DEI is a business imperative that drives innovation, enhances customer satisfaction, and improves business performance. However, implementing DEI initiatives across a global organization can be challenging due to cultural, regulatory, and operational differences across regions. This is where EA and Agile values can play a crucial role.

EA provides a holistic view of the organization, enabling leaders to identify and address DEI-related deviations. For instance, EA can help identify processes or systems that inadvertently create barriers for certain groups, such as inaccessible software for people with disabilities or recruitment processes that disadvantage certain demographics.

Agile values, on the other hand, emphasize individuals and interactions, customer collaboration, and responding to change. These values can be leveraged to foster a culture of inclusion and equity. For example, the Agile principle of welcoming changing requirements can be applied to DEI by continuously adapting and improving DEI strategies based on feedback and changing societal norms.

Implementing DEI initiatives can bring significant benefits to businesses:

• Innovation: Diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives, leading to more creative and innovative solutions. For example, a software development team with diverse backgrounds can create more inclusive and user-friendly products.
• Customer Satisfaction: A diverse workforce can better understand and meet the needs of a diverse customer base. For instance, a global company with a diverse team can better cater to the needs of customers in different regions.
• Business Performance: Numerous studies have shown that companies with diverse leadership teams outperform their less diverse counterparts. For example, a 2020 study by McKinsey found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile.

IBM provides a case study of a company that leverages both EA and Agile values to promote DEI. IBM's EA framework, which includes DEI as a core component, helps the company identify and address DEI-related issues across its global operations. Meanwhile, its commitment to Agile values fosters a culture of continuous improvement and inclusivity (IBM, 2020).

So, EA and Agile values are powerful tools for promoting DEI in global organizations. By providing a holistic view of the organization and fostering a culture of inclusivity and adaptability, they enable leaders to identify and address DEI-related deviations, facilitating the creation of a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

References:

• IBM. (2020). Diversity & Inclusion Report 2020. IBM. https://www.ibm.com/employment/inclusion/
• IBM Garage. (n.d.). Agile Principles. IBM. https://www.ibm.com/garage/method/practices/culture/practice_agile_principles/
• McKinsey & Company. (2020). Diversity wins: How inclusion matters. McKinsey. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters

Disclaimer: This blog post is not promotional and is based on my personal experiences and observations.