Never mind the Meta-bollocks: a rant about #entarch
‘My framework/metamodel/ontology is better than your framework/metamodel/ontology’
‘Have we tailored our framework correctly?’
‘Is our reference architecture complete?’
‘That is not a capability that is a service!’
‘Is that a Service or a Capability, a Function or an Information System Service or an Actor’
‘Is this a logical application component or a logical technology component?’
‘I was going to model this as a logical application component but i want to relate it to an actor, so i have to wrap it up in an information system services then a business service.’
‘What would TOGAF do?’
‘Is this this Solution Concept diagram the right type of artifact? should it be a Business Footprint diagram?’
‘Are we progressing in line with our architecture maturity model?’
None of these questions matter!
Why?
because they don’t matter to your stakeholders
Why?
If you are really doing enterprise architecture and not detailed solutions/technology architecture (where accuracy of semantics is more important), then the stakeholders that matter, the ones whose decisions you provide support for simply don’t f-ing care!
EA is really just a technique to provide decision support, to help decision makers (oh by the way if you think you are one of them you are deluded) make informed decisions that affect the success of the Enterprise.
All we need to do as EAs to be successful is communicate clarity to your stakeholder about the problem space they are concerned about. To do this you don’t need to gnash your teeth or gaze at your navel, you don’t need a fancy tool and the right template connecting the right concepts in your chosen meta-model.
What you need is an understanding of the problem space, the status quo and what pragmatic steps may need to be taken to achieve the target.
To much EA debate, whether with colleagues or in the wider community is Meta-bollocks
Definiton: A conversation between Enterprise Architects that results in no value delivered to the organisation but an increase in air pressure and temperature due to the production of hot air.
When you engage in one of these meta-bollocks debates either with yourself or your colleagues, stop. Ask yourself, If my most important stakeholder was in the room at this moment, would she understand and would she think the discussion was an effective use of your time? if the answer is no, curtail the discussion and get on doing some Enterprise Architecture.
