By Patty Donovan, The Open Group
The Open Group hosted a tweet jam (#ogChat) to discuss the evolution of Business Architecture and its role in enterprise transformation. In case you missed the conversation, here is a recap of the event.
The Participants
A total of 16 participants joined in the hour-long discussion, including:
- Allen Brown, The Open Group (@allenbrownopen)
- Blake Kennedy, Costco Wholesale (@blake6677)
- Brenda Michelson, Elemental Links (@bmichelson)
- Chris Preimesberger, eWEEK (@editingwhiz)
- Dana Gardner, ZDNet (@Dana_Gardner)
- Dan Schultz, The Hidden Job (@leaderdev)
- Dave Hornford, Conexiam (@DaveHornford)
- Dave Lounsbury, The Open Group (@Technodad)
- David Bryan, UNSW (@dbbnet)
- Ed Asuncion, Enterprise Architects (@enterprisearchs)
- E.G. Nadhan, HP (@NadhanAtHP)
- Emmanuel Williams, CPMS Ltd. (@emmancorps)
- Harry Hendrickx, HP (@harryhendrickx)
- Hugh Evans, Enterprise Architects (@enterprisearchs)
- Kevin Daley, IBM (@kdaley8587)
- Martin Gladwell, IBM Global Business Services (@MartinGladwell)
- Tom Graves, Tetradian (@tetradian)
The Discussion
Here is a high-level snapshot of yesterday’s #ogChat discussion:
Q1 How do you define #BizArch? #ogChat
While not everyone could agree on a single definition, all agreed that Business Architecture enables operational ease and business model innovation.
- @Dana_Gardner: Q1 Aligning the strategies and operational priorities of all a business’s groups along a common, coorindated path. #ogChat #BizArch #EA
- @enterprisearchs: Q1 At @enterprisearchs we also believe #BizArch is the design of business to enable business model innovation #ogChat
- @bmichelson: #ogchat q1: in reality, business architecture is more the meta model of business, used to understand, measure, deliver capability #BizArch
- @MartinGladwell: Q1 Orchestrating the delivery of changes needed to realise the strategy #ogchat
Q2 What is the role of the business architect? What real world #business problems does #BizArch solve? #ogChat
Most agreed that the lines are blurred between the roles of the Business Architect and the Enterprise Architect. Both manage complexity, agility and data proactively within a business or enterprise.
- @bmichelson: #ogchat q2: so, I differ here. I think *true* business architect designs the business; in reality, we assign “architect” to business analyst
- @Dana_Gardner: Q2 #BizArch allows for managing complexity, fostering agility, makes a data-driven enterprise more able to act in proactive manner #ogChat
- @editingwhiz: So much software now is aimed at line-of-business people that acquiring IT business architect creds would be a huge attribute. #ogChat
- @MartinGladwell: Q2 Is an MBA an advantage for a BA? Is it necessary? #ogchat
- @enterprisearchs: A2 Ensures an org is correctly positioned and the environmental/industry factors are understood in order to achieve its strategy #ogChat
- @DaveHornford: Q2: all my answers chase their tails into architecture – what must I have to get what I want – what must change #ogchat #bizarch
Q3 How is the role of the Business Architect changing? What are the drivers of this change? #ogChat #BizArch
Some argued that the role of the Business Architect is not changing at all, but rather just emerging (or evolving?), and that Business Architects are differentiating themselves from other organizational roles. Others argued that the role is changing to accommodate emerging trends and areas of focus (i.e,. customer experience).
- @enterprisearchs: A3 Businesses are looking to differentiate, an increased focus on Customer Experience is raising questions on how to increase NPS #ogChat
- @blake6677: #ogchat At the core of my Business Architecture practice is business capability modeling
- @DaveHornford: Q3 – changing? Is just starting to appear – distinction between architect, strategist, analyst, change leader often hard to see #ogchat
Q4 How does #BizArch differ from #EntArch? #ogChat
Similar to the discussion around question two, most participants agreed that the roles of Business and Enterprise Architects are difficult to separate, while some argued about the differences in scope of the two roles.
- @NadhanAtHP: A4: @theopengroup Biz Architecture provides the business foundation for the Enterprise Architecture which is more holistic #ogChat
- @DaveHornford: Q4: difference is in scope #BizArch is one of many domains comprising #EntArch #ogchat
- @harryhendrickx: Q3 #BizArch evolves towards operational position serving many initiatives. Not sure how practice evolves #ogChat
- Len Fehskens: Q4 “There is a lot of confusion about the meanings of #business and #enterprise, and many people use them synonymously” #Len #ogChat
- @MartinGladwell @theopengroup Len I think there is no truth of the matter, we must choose to use these terms in a way that advances our common cause #ogchat
- @enterprisearchs: A4 In TOGAF ADM we see #BizArch predominantly supporting the prelim and arch vision phases #ogchat
Q5 How can Business Architects and Enterprise Architects work together? #ogChat #BizArch #EntArch
All agreed that Business Architects and Enterprise Architects exist to support one another. When discussing the first step to establishing successful Business Architecture, participants suggested knowing its purpose first, then tapping professional accreditation and community involvement resources second.
- @Dave Hornford: Ethnography within the enterprise, it’s ecosystem or both? #ogchat
- @Dana_Gardner: Q5 They make each other stronger, and can provide an example to the rest on how these methods and tools can work harmoniously. #ogChat
- @bmichelson: “@theopengroup: What is the first step toward establishing a successful #BizArch? #ogChat” < knowing why you want to establish practice
- @MartinGladwell: @theopengroup #ogchat professional accreditation, community, role models
Q6 What’s in store for #BizArch in the future? #ogChat
When looking towards the future, panelists suggested erasing ambiguity when it comes to the difference between Business and Enterprise Architects. Others also predicted that the rising demand for Business Architects will spark a need for certification and training programs.
- Len Fehskens: Q6 I fear conventional wisdom contradictions and ambiguities will be ‘resolved’ by setting arbitrary distinctions in concrete #Len #ogChat
- @Dana_Gardner: Q6 I hope to see more stature given to the role of #BizArch, so that it becomes an executive-tier requirement. #ogChat
- @bmichelson: #ogchat q6: learning how to enable continuous change via: visibility, context, correctness & responsiveness #BizArch
- @MartinGladwell: Q6 #ogchat We will see information as a design activity not an analysis activity
- @enterprisearchs: A6 The demand for #BizArch will generate a need for recognised certification and training #ogChat
- @allenbrownopen: Business architecture like other functions such as legal and finance can inform C level decisions, it can’t make them #ogchat
A big thank you to all the participants who made this such a great discussion! Join us for our next tweet jam on Platform 3.0!
Patricia Donovan is Vice President, Membership & Events, at The Open Group and a member of its executive management team. In this role she is involved in determining the company’s strategic direction and policy as well as the overall management of that business area. Patricia joined The Open Group in 1988 and has played a key role in the organization’s evolution, development and growth since then. She also oversees the company’s marketing, conferences and member meetings. She is based in the U.S.