Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling is an iterative approach to your EA initiatives. Let's consider how you can apply step-wise methodology to developing a realistic target operating model and implementing the changes you need to realize it.
Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling is an often-mentioned, but rarely explained, concept within enterprise architecture best practice. Put simply, the concept is that you can't create a realistic vision for your target operating model and implement it in one process.
Rather, you need to carefully gather data and iterate on your initial designs to create an achievable, but optimal, goal state for your operating model. You can then work iteratively toward that state by breaking the journey into small steps.
This means you can aim for low-hanging fruit and achieve quick wins and early value. Budget saved early on can then be re-applied to drive larger and long-term goals.
Let's explore how you can take a step-wise approach to your enterprise architecture. Along the way, we'll discover that the real key to being step-wise, is being data-driven.
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What Is Step-Wise Enterprise Architecture Modeling?
Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling is an intentional and iterative approach to leveraging EA in the creation of a target operating model. The term is used by The Open Group when describing its Architecture Development Method (ADM) as a "stepwise cyclic iterative approach for the development of the overall enterprise architecture".
A 2023 paper by enterprise architect, Sameer Paradkar, attempted to expand on this description to create a full methodology for ADM. The result is a framework for making enterprise architecture decisions one step at a time.
"Step-wise" isn't an official term or a name for a methodology, but merely a way to describe a methodical approach to enterprise architecture that is more likely to lead to success. It's an essential attitude for an enterprise architect to have when breaking down complex architectural issues into straightforward action plans.
As with any formal initiative, trying to complete all the work at the same time can lead to increased complexity and the likelihood of failure. By breaking the process down into smaller steps, you can focus on achievable, short-term goals and ensure the project work is completed in the right order, as well as reducing time-to-value.
If your leadership team instructs you to modernize your entire application portfolio to support the organization, for example, you may feel overwhelmed with this enormous task. However, identifying a particular application that is outdated and then working to replace it is far simpler, so if you repeat that process until you run out of applications to modernize, you'll have achieved your task in a step-wise way.
Just what are the steps you need to take to succeed in an enterprise architecture project, though? Let's explore each stage.
The Steps Of Step-Wise EA
Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling was described by Sameer Paradkar in a Medium post. He expanded on The Open Group's Architecture Development Method (ADM) to explain the five steps you need to take in any enterprise architecture process, including the construction of a target operating model:
Step 1: Identify The Need
To achieve value, you must first identify where it is lacking. As such, the first stage in any enterprise architecture initiative is to find the user pain points where your application portfolio isn't providing the right amount of support.
Step 2: Frame The Problem
You must next ensure that you fully understand the pain point you're addressing and that clarity is shared with everyone involved. You must also have oversight of all the potential impacts of making changes to the area in question.
Step 3: Explore And Evaluate Options
Once you've involved all the stakeholders and fully understood the issues, it's time to start designing your new target operating model. Make sure you consider multiple options and pathways to resolve the problem.
Step 4: Make And Communicate The Decision
Once you have chosen what you believe to be the right solution, you need to make sure that your users and experts agree. Share word of the decision far and early in order to ensure any issues can be raised and resolved before you reach a point of no return on the choice.
Step 5: Implement and Review
Finally, two stages are compiled into one. You go ahead with your agreed solution and continue to review its success throughout implementation and afterwards.
The Missing Steps For Step-Wise
Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling is a straightforward process, so long as you follow the stages. However, the five steps above are missing the foundational background work required to establish an enterprise architecture process before you start.
Consider the very first step of the process above: identifying the need for change. To target that need, you already have to have a system in place to do so.
Whether it's a way of collating user feedback or a system for monitoring application performance, you need a way to see where the problems lie before you can solve them. Remaining a step away from your application portfolio means you won't be able to fully visualize the problem.
This rules out the second step, as well. Without a complete map of your application portfolio to refer to and a detailed understanding of the user pain point, you won't be able to frame the problem accurately.
Without detailed information, you also won't be able to fully explore possible solutions or envision a detailed target operating model for the future, let alone communicate that vision. You can't properly assess your new enterprise architecture to show your success either.
It's not that there's an issue with stepwise or The Open Group's Architecture Development Method (ADM), it's simply that you need to have an enterprise architecture process in place before you can leverage those frameworks properly. Enterprise architecture thrives on data.
Data Is The Life Blood Of Enterprise Architecture
Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling relies on data, just like any other enterprise architecture methodology. If you don't have comprehensive information about your IT landscape, then you can't make the right decisions to optimize it.
To find the issues in your application portfolio, fully understand them, design solutions to them, and then monitor the results, you need comprehensive oversight. A single source of truth that collates performance data, user feedback, and application dependencies, along with contract and budgeting information, allows you to call up the information you need to drive stepwise enterprise architecture through each of the five steps.
With this data at hand, you can easily:
- identify user pain points and performance issues
- deep-dive into those problems to gain a 360 viewpoint and full understanding
- share that clarity with stakeholders
- design a realistic and effective solution to the problem
- monitor the impact of your solution and report on your success
The Open Group and Sameer Paradkar are offering advice on how to manage your enterprise architecture data to achieve success in your EA initiatives. Yet, the modern enterprise architect works with data.
Once, EAs would focus on designing the target state for their operating models without grounding their vision in their current architecture. Now, we know that their target operating models can only be achieved by looking at the reality of their current state and building forward from there.
This is why oversight of your application portfolio is so crucial for modern enterprise architecture. That oversight is the key that unlocks stepwise enterprise architecture and turns your target operating model into a reality.
Unlocking Step-Wise EA With SAP LeanIX
Step-wise enterprise architecture modeling requires oversight and comprehensive data on your application portfolio. Effective enterprise architects leverage SAP LeanIX to give them the information they need to drive step-wise decision-making.
SAP LeanIX stores customizable fact sheets for each of your applications and allows you to import data and conduct automated surveys to complete that information. Once you have that data in SAP LeanIX, you can analyze and visualize it to give yourself complete clarity on your IT landscape.
Best of all, SAP LeanIX provides you with a sandbox environment in which you can experiment with a model of your current IT landscape and build yourself an ideal target operating model. From there, SAP LeanIX will support you in creating a step-wise roadmap to take your IT landscape forward.
Unlock step-wise enterprise architecture modeling with SAP LeanIX. Book a demo to see the full power of our platform:
