Enterprise Architecture (EA) as an enterprise planning framework has its place and merits, yet it often falls short of real-world IT expectations. The traditional EA approach defines the to-be state architecture that may exist for a while but does not last long.
At The Open Group event in Amsterdam on November 5, 2019, the latest version of the ArchiMate® modeling language for Enterprise Architecture was released. Version 3.1 is an update to the previous major version 3.0 (released in 2016). Despite being ‘just’ a minor version update, it holds a number of useful additions and improvements for Enterprise Architecture practitioners.
Corporations are faced with global competition and they need to become more agile and resilient. Enterprise Architects need to rethink how they deliver value more quickly to keep pace of change in need and change in technology. Builders are employing latest techniques in Agile and Dev-Ops. Architects and builders need to continuously think about risk mitigation.
The continued success and planned outcomes of Digital India clearly depends on disciplined adoption of standards…and Enterprise Architecture is the backbone.
The ArchiMate language should address only what is necessary to model architecture and leave the other areas to appropriate modeling languages, such as BPMN™ for business process models and UML® for software models. Each profession has its own optimal terminology, languages, and tools. The ArchiMate language should not challenge languages designed for disciplines beyond architecture. It is better to ensure traceability between different model types to maintain consistency. If there is a desire for a modeling language for other areas, do not just add them to the ArchiMate language but make a related new language.
Digitalization is forcing the convergence of networks and platforms that have traditionally remained separate. Mobile networks have previously been the domain of telecommunications providers, but as new mobile generations emerge the reach of the network is also becoming an enterprise domain.
We spoke with Thomas Magedanz, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the Technische Universität Berlin and Director of the software-based networks competence center at Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS, about the expectations for 5G networks, why 5G technologies are being tested with Smart Cities applications and how standards can drive the global network interoperability that 5G will require. Thomas was a keynote speaker at The Open Group Berlin 2017 in April.
