How to use Metro Maps to Visualize Dataflow for a Business Audience

ArchiMate is the modeling language of choice for most enterprise architects. When ArchiMate is communicated to a business audience, however, the default visualization is often perceived as too technical. To solve this, Bizzdesign is creating alternative ways of visualizing ArchiMate models, such as the Metro Map. The new Metro Map view visualizes dataflow or processes…

Amateurs talk Strategy, Professionals talk Logistics — that is kind of true in IT as well

It is an old adagium of warfare: Amateurs talk Strategy, Professionals talk Logistics. Maybe surprisingly, this is true in IT as well. Maybe it is true in any complex and unpredictable situation, which ‘big IT’ is more and more turning out to be. Logis…

Why Enterprise Architecture as a Subject is a “Must-Have” Now More Than Ever Before?

By Vishal Kumar, Consultant, Deloitte Consulting

A master’s in business administration helps students understand business dynamics better. I believe having the ability to see business as a wholesome thing is paramount in today’s era. There is a dire need for students to apply the lens of Enterprise Architect and break the silos approach to enable students to see the business as a single unit. It is pivotal to understand that enterprise doesn’t run in silos the way the subjects during our MBA might make us think. For an enterprise to run efficiently and effectively, it needs to run collaboratively, i.e., all the fundamental constituents of an enterprise need to make progress in tandem.

“An enterprise is only as strong as the weakest link.”

Let’s take an analogy of the human body. For a human body to run efficiently, it needs an intention and goal, and it requires food as fuel, sleep as refreshment and a family as a support system.

How to Measure Business Capability Aspects

As we explained in our previous blog on capability assessment, to effectively assess Capabilities and execute Capability-Based Planning, we need to define three dimensions: Strategic Importance, Capability Maturity, and Adaptability, and measure them. Simply put, the first dimension lets you prioritize those capabilities that are most important to your enterprise; the second focuses on where…

“All Standards are Wrong”?

By Kees van den Brink, Senior Manager Platform Architect, ServiceNow.

This blog title is derived from the famous quote by George E.P. Box from his paper “Science and Statistics”:

Box made this statement in relation to the use of statistical models by scientists, but I’ve found that it applies equally well to the use of open standards by enterprise architects and other digital practitioners.

Key take away from this blog:
o Standards can be useful when you:
o Learn and adopt from what makes sense
o Reject what does not fit
o Want to know more: Read “The Turning Point: A Novel about Agile Architects Building a Digital Foundation”


Frankly, standards can be very helpful and are necessary, like the TCP/IP standard, or even old standards such as the Baudot Code (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudot_code), which helped early instances of what would later be called telecommunications companies grow fast, or the ISO Standards, which help with interoperability.

However, there are a lot of lesser-known standards that are not getting such broad adoption. Examples that come to mind are the IT4IT™ Standard, TOGAF® Standard, BIZBOK®, etc.