By Sonia Gonzalez, Forum Director, Architecture and ArchiMate® Forums, The Open Group
The Open Group will explore Enterprise Architecture (EA) best practices and open standards for business transformation at the event in Lima, Peru, on October 4 and 5, 2018. More detailed information can be found here.
Introduction
The business environment is evolving. Changes to regulations, new customer demands and the increased use of information technologies and mobile devices are just some of the trends putting pressure on organizations to prioritize innovation and efficiency in order to remain competitive.
Business leaders are asking themselves:
- How can we ensure that corporate strategy and objectives are reflected in the day-to-day operations of the business?
- How can we optimize existing resources, minimize risk and develop innovative products and services that can keep pace with the evolving business landscape?
The Open Group will discuss how business leaders can respond through the integrated application of management and governance frameworks.
How can Enterprise Architecture support digital transformation and why are open standards important?
The evolving business environment requires insight into the different components that make up an organization. EA enables the identification and management of organizational capabilities to support digital transformation, mitigate risk and manage complexity.
For a digital transformation to be successful, organizations need to have a digital strategy connected with the organization general strategic objectives. This implies that the transformation process should be pervasive through the whole organization, it is no longer and IT or automatization issue. Implies having new digital products and services, a new and more innovative business model, a more complex channel strategy, an aggressive digital marketing and developing the right capabilities to offer customers a good digital experience. All of this of course needs to be supported by technology capabilities and platforms. This can only be achieved if the whole organizational landscape is described and understood.
An ‘architectural landscape’ essentially represents the different components of the business – including business processes and information technology resources – making it possible to modify existing operating models in order to harness new technological trends in an efficient and timely manner.
The relevant question in this context is: What methodologies should be applied for the successful management of EA going into digital transformation? The TOGAF® Standard, Version 9.2 is a proven methodology and framework for the implementation of EA as a strategic and tactical discipline. It facilitates the synergistic application of organizational assets and the integration of different disciplines, practices and tools in order to deliver a consistency architectural landscape which is the foundation for a successful digital transformation
The TOGAF® 9.2 standard is known as an open standard which offers best practices, reference materials and frameworks to help organizations operate more effectively as they face social and economic changes. For many companies and industries, a practical solution involves the development and use of common frameworks that can be implemented without the need to pay for a license.
Why is it important to use reference models for the development of EA?
The use of universally accepted methodologies and integration formats generates results depending on individual use cases. However, it generally facilitates interoperability between the different actors that make up the complex ecosystems of today’s business landscape. In this context, it is vital to implement a reference model – whether generic or industry specific – that is conceptualized to cover a certain set of requirements applicable to a particular vertical.
The use of industry recognized reference models facilitates the exchange of services and products between organizations belonging to the same sector or vertical. It also enables organizations to implement and adapt market available solutions that are based on these industry-specific reference models.
It is vital to integrate EA with other industry standards and methodologies such as: strategic management, innovation, agile development, project management, programs and portfolios, operations management, risk management, management and governance of information technologies and management of IT services.
The importance of promoting and developing EA in Latin America
The application of industry standards must always be tailored to meet the needs of a particular country, region and organization. This is critical in the case of multinational organizations that need to consider the different social, economic and political conditions that invariably impact their business operations.
In the specific case of Latin America, countries in this region share the same needs and interests and face similar challenges. Therefore, it makes sense to conceptualize forums and discussion spaces to create solutions to the specific challenges facing this region.
The application of EA and the use of open standards can create fundamental and intrinsic benefits for Latin American businesses, including:
- Promoting the use of industry recognized best practices around key issues such as organizational transformation
- Encouraging the use of reference frameworks that will help organizations to operate more effectively at a regional and global scale
- Enabling the exchange of knowledge between key stakeholders based on their experiences within specific industries and vertical markets – healthcare, government, telecommunications, for example – on both a regional and global level
- Creating common assets that can be used across industries and organizations to provide business value and increase competition
- Encouraging communication and interoperability between the public and private sectors
Only through the application of universally recognized management and governance frameworks can organizations – both in the private and public sectors – improve efficiency, achieve organizational transformation and harness digital innovations.
The Open Group organizes various events to raise awareness of using best practices and open standards for business transformation. The next event in Latin America will be held in Lima, Peru, on October 4 and 5, 2018. More detailed information on this event can be found on The Open Group site at the following link: www.opengroup.org/peru2018
http://www.opengroup.org @theopengroup #ogLIMA
M.BA Sonia Gonzalez Paredes, Architect Empresarial. Engineer in Information Systems and Master in Business Administration. More than 20 years of experience in strategic business consulting, analysis of business models, analysis and development of information systems and technologies and project management. Senior Consultant in DUX DILIGENS in the areas of business consulting, innovation, business architecture, management of business processes, and management and governance of Information Technologies. Lecturer for The Open Group and President of the Association of Business Architects Capitulo Costa Rica. (AEA CR). Certifications: TOGAF®, ArchiMate® – both standards of The Open Group, and COBIT 5. Sonia is the Forum Director of the Architecture and ArchiMate Forums of The Open Group.