What is Enterprise Architecture?

Enterprise Architecture is blueprint which defines structure, operations, organization behaviors, business processes, roles, software applications and computer systems. It describes the composition of enterprise components and their relationships. The intent of EA is to determine how an organization can effectively achieve consistency across various systems through well defined communication.

Benefits of Enterprise Architecture in an Organization

The purpose of EA is to optimize across the organization, fragmented processes into integrated environment that is responsive of change and supportive of delivery of the business strategy. EA addresses business success by providing a strategic context for the evolution of the IT system in response to the constantly changing needs of the business environment.

Following are the benefits of EA:

• Lower software development, costs and support.
• Improvement in Quality processes.
• Integrated environment which ensures consistency in systems.
• Better ROI (Return of Investment)
• Reduced complexity in IT infrastructure.
• Flexibility to implement third party solutions or outsource solutions.
• Easier upgrades and exchange of system components without affecting existing systems.

There are several EA frameworks available which explains every aspects of enterprise architecture:

• Zachman Enterprise Architecture Framework (ZIFA)
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)
• Enterprise Architecture Planning (EAP)
• Integrated Architecture Framework (IAF)