For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Consolidating Vendors? Make Sure EA's Voice Is Heard On Strategic Products And Services

Enterprise Architects Need To Become More Involved In Corporate Initiatives To Rationalize The IT Vendor Portfolio

by Gene Leganza, September 4, 2009

When CIOs and CFOs launch vendor consolidation initiatives to cut costs and simplify their environments, they turn to their sourcing and vendor management teams to lead the charge. But enterprise architects must play an active role, identifying the enterprise's . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Market Update: Human And Social Services Enterprise Software

The Large Enterprise Market Is Down To Cúram Software, Oracle, And SAP

by Gene Leganza, August 26, 2009

Forrester last reviewed enterprise software offerings in human and social services in 2006 — what's changed? The shift to installing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software rather than engaging in mammoth custom development projects has gained significant . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Case Study: DHL Express Uses Business Architecture To Design A New Service Offering

by Gene Leganza, July 21, 2009

Enterprise architecture (EA) programs are becoming more business focused and helping IT deliver greater value to business. Business-focused EA teams are developing the "next practices" for interacting with the business, collecting and analyzing data, . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Survey Data Shows Enterprise Architects Are Gatekeepers Of Technology Acquisitions

Despite A Growing Focus On Business Architecture, Data Shows That EA's Technology Role Has Not Diminished

by Gene Leganza, July 13, 2009

Recent Forrester survey data shows that, in most organizations, enterprise architects strongly influence technology purchase decisions. Three-quarters of our respondents said that all or most major technology purchases at their organization require enterprise . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Next-Generation IT Requires Next-Generation EA

EA Makes The New Core Processes Of IT Work

by Alex Cullen, Gene Leganza, Jeff Scott, Jost Hoppermann, June 30, 2009

What business wants from IT is changing, and that means IT has to change how it manages itself and the IT-business relationship. Building on current project delivery and operational management competencies, CIOs are adding new core management processes: . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Case Study: Deutsche Bank Turns To Business Architecture To Transform Business-IT Alignment

by Gene Leganza, June 24, 2009

Enterprise architecture (EA) programs are becoming more business focused, helping IT deliver greater value to the business. Business-focused EA teams are developing the "next practices" for interacting with the business, collecting and analyzing data, . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

EA Must Guide Master Data Management Initiatives Through Information Architecture

by Gene Leganza, June 22, 2009

Master data management (MDM) can be used as a strategic means to deliver a trusted view of critical data throughout the enterprise. However, MDM has not yet matured as a business capability, and there is still a great deal of market confusion regarding . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Case Study: EA Aligns IT With Business' Emergent Strategy

by Gene Leganza, June 10, 2009

Enterprise architecture (EA) programs are becoming more business focused and helping IT to deliver greater value to business. Business-focused EA teams are developing the "next practices" for interacting with the business, collecting and analyzing data, . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Inquiry Spotlight: Building An EA Practice, Q2 2009

by Gene Leganza, Katie Smillie, June 1, 2009

Forrester examined 2,292 end user inquiries from enterprise architecture (EA) professionals in 2008. The topics of these inquiries were wide ranging, including questions about information and knowledge management, infrastructure and operations, and application . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Inquiry Spotlight: Enterprise Architecture Best Practices, Q1 2009

by Gene Leganza, Katie Smillie, April 9, 2009

Forrester examined 2,292 end user inquiries from enterprise architecture (EA) professionals. Most of these inquiries were on specific technology topics such as information and knowledge management, infrastructure and operations, and application development; . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Inquiry Spotlight: Organizing Architecture Teams Q1 2009

by Gene Leganza, Katie Smillie, March 27, 2009

Forrester examined a total of 2,292 end user inquiries from enterprise architecture (EA) professionals in 2008. Many of these inquiries were about specific technology topics such as information and knowledge management, infrastructure and operations, . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Trends For EA Professionals In 2009

Enterprise Architects: Use Today's Economic Challenges To Focus And Sharpen Your Efforts

by Jost Hoppermann, Gene Leganza, Jeff Scott, Ken Vollmer, January 7, 2009

Enterprise architecture (EA) will continue its journey up the value chain in 2009, but there's no doubt that the road will be bumpy at best. Helping their organizations deal with economic conditions will consume some EA teams, and most will have to narrow . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

EA Pros: Must-Read Research In An Economic Downturn

by Gene Leganza, Randy Heffner, October 28, 2008

Economists are debating the length and depth of the economic impact of the credit crunch and the October market meltdown. What can enterprise architects do to survive or — dare we think it — excel during an economic downturn? Enterprise architects must . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Infrastructure Architects Link Technology Strategy With Long-Term EA And Business Goals

by Gene Leganza, Katie Smillie, July 16, 2008

The specifics of various architecture roles have become a hot topic as enterprise architecture (EA) practices have matured. A common role in many organizations is the infrastructure architect. A recent Forrester survey reveals that most enterprise architects . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Enterprise Architects Play A Key Role In Uncertain Economic Times

by Gene Leganza, June 26, 2008

When the economic climate is uncertain and threatening to become less friendly, executives take a closer look at the value of their investments. They will put IT projects — and IT organizational units — under the magnifying glass and only keep those that . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Can EA Drive Business Innovation?

Point/Counterpoint From Forrester's Enterprise Architecture Forum 2008

by Gene Leganza, Ken Vollmer, April 17, 2008

In spite of the existence of many organizational barriers, enterprise architecture (EA) can successfully drive business innovation efforts. However, this must be done through close collaboration with the business units that will be the ultimate beneficiaries . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Enterprise Architecture? What's In It For Me?

To Communicate EA's Value, Architects Must Relate It To Stakeholders' Goals

by Gene Leganza, December 21, 2007

Enterprise architects know that their EA programs provide significant value to their organizations. But communicating EA's value is challenging: As a strategic activity, it doesn't have the immediate impact of other IT activities, such as implementing . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Effective High-Level Architecture Principles Spoon-Feed Business Implications To Stakeholders

US Government's Architecture Principles Illustrate Right Form And Content

by Gene Leganza, September 27, 2007

High-level architecture principles encapsulate and communicate an enterprise's goals, vision, and values. They are key constructs that provide guidance to governance bodies and individuals for making decisions in a manner consistent with the enterprise . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Topic Overview: Enterprise Architecture

by Gene Leganza, August 13, 2007

As business technology (BT) becomes integral to organizations' focus on growth, innovation, and flexibility, IT organizations are turning to enterprise architecture (EA) to best advance objectives ranging from operational efficiency to delivering BT-enabled . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Is EA Certification Important?

Our Survey Says "No," But A Significant Pro-Certification Minority Is Emerging

by Gene Leganza, July 27, 2007

The majority of the respondents in Forrester's May 2007 enterprise architecture (EA) home page poll — 65% — say that EA certification is not currently important. But a significant minority of our respondents have planned or implemented changes to their . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Role Overview: The Enterprise Architecture Professional In 2007

by Gene Leganza, Larry Fulton, May 11, 2007

In 2007, enterprise architects face the ongoing issues of defining technology strategy and improving the overall effectiveness of enterprise architecture (EA) processes, but the imperative to merge technology and business strategy brings new challenges. . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Information And Data Architecture Initiatives Are On The Rise

by Gene Leganza, April 17, 2007

Only half of the 157 respondents in Forrester's first enterprise architecture (EA) home page poll say that they have had a formal information or data architecture program in place for more than two years. How is this possible, when common wisdom has it . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Jump-Starting New EA Programs

by Gene Leganza, March 21, 2007

Leaders of newly created or recently renewed enterprise architecture (EA) programs can spend months generating momentum for the initiative, particularly when the EA team includes dotted-line subject matter experts not formally "owned" by the architecture . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

Demystifying EA Programs

by Gene Leganza, March 13, 2007

Enterprise architects must advance a strategic, enterprisewide agenda in the context of siloed interests and a "show me the money" attitude toward the business value of projects. The going is never easy, but leading enterprises build upon executive support . . .

For Enterprise Architecture Professionals

EA Governance Provides Traction

Ensuring That Plans And Road Maps Turn Into Reality

by Alex Cullen, Gene Leganza, January 11, 2007

Enterprise architecture (EA) governance links EA plans to IT action, ensuring that IT planning, project portfolio management, and project execution align with enterprise goals. Two major approaches guide architects' involvement in governance processes: . . .