2. What is a Professional Enterprise Architect? Or...How Can We Help PeopleUnderstand What We Do? 2009 CAEAP SummitFour Seasons Resort & Club DallasLas Colinas, TexasJune 20, 2009 Kathie Sowell President, Custom Enterprise Solutions, LLC Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
3. The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost 3 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Literal Interpretation*: Be a rugged individual! Don’t follow the crowd! (But also, you’d better be right, because every- thing you do goes on your permanent record.) Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. Ironic Interpretation*: Nah, the poem is just trying to justify the poet’s choice by getting all dramatic. His choice of road really didn’t make any difference at all. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. * Thank you, Wikipedia! Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
4. What does this have to do with Enterprise Architects? 4 There are two divergent roads I have seen that lead to getting EA understood and incorporated into an organization. EA Stealthy Approach Direct Approach Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
5. What would lead us to choose the “Direct Approach?” 5 “Nobody understands us!” Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
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7. Has this ever happened to you? 7 Well... I’m an Enterprise Architect. Hi there! Name’s Bob! Sales is my game! What do you do? No, no... It’s not like that. You see...I Great! Great! I’ve got this little plumbing problem... Great! Great! Whatever...So long! #$%@*! “Bob!” Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
8. Is your mailbox stuffed with these? 8 Dear Enterprise Architect: Cheep Charlie has a deal for you! Gen-u-wine South American Zebra Bamboo Flooring Blowout Prices!! Deep Discounts!! Hurry!! Hurry!! Subscribe to Construction Monthly! Learn the latest techniques for making your construction business profitable in all seasons and all economic conditions! Only $999.00/year Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
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10. We can build acceptance of and respect for our profession
11. We can promote our profession to the extent that we become integral to decisionsregarding Enterprise directionThis is what the CAEAP can help us to do. Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
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13. We make models of the technology used in our organizations
18. We partner with Enterprise leaders in determining strategic direction and in assessing progress over time Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
19. Can we be more succinct? 11 Short Answer: A Professional Enterprise Architect makes sure that internal Enterprise operations are aligned with the Enterprise’s client needs and the Enterprise’s own goals and values Outside Client Operations Internal Enterprise Operations Professional Enterprise Architect Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
20. What constitutes an effective Enterprise Architecture Team? Professional Enterprise Architect:Certified and experienced in EA development, modeling, integration, and presentation Domain Experts:Intimately familiar with business and mission operations addressed in the architecture Architecture Analyst: Knowledgeable in the types of processes and systems pertinent to the architecture Technically astute and experienced in ability to conduct process/system assessments, trade-offs, and linkages to the operations supported Bridge between the Enterprise Architect and the Process and/or Systems Engineer Process and/or Systems Engineers In-depth understanding of the processes and/or technologies pertinent to the As-Is and To-Be EA Honest broker between the Enterprise Architect and the Domain Expert (e.g., Can the user practically employ the recommended technologies? Are the suggested solutions mature? cost-effective? 12 Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
21. The EA Team and Beyond 13 ENTERPRISE STAKEHOLDERS Auxiliary Team Support Domain Expert Business Process Engineer Professional EA Architect Systems Engineer Tools Analysts Graphics Investors Leadership EA Framework Clients EA Team Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
22. Now, let’s focus on the Enterprise Architect Think logically Think holistically (grasp the big picture) Communicate with human beings Clients Techie ones “Suits” Non-techies Anti-techies Communicate in complete sentences Think, function, and communicate even when the Internet is down ! Visualize 14 An Enterprise Architect should be able to: Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
23. A good Enterprise Architect will be able to think visually and express thoughts visually 15 Why? Because people think in pictures. Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
24. 16 Who Dunnit? What’s Killing Her? Where do Enterprise Architects come from? Traditionally: Systems engineers Software engineers Business and systems analysts Out-of-the-box Musicians Visual Artists Writers Detectives and Medical Diagnosticians* * Ever watch “House?” or “Law and Order?” They always draw a Business Node Connection Diagram to figure out who/what did or influenced what. Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
25. 17 Good Enterprise Architects come from this region Discipline Grasp/Visualization But, more important than one’s background, is the potential one has to be an effective Enterprise Architect Totally Anal Obsessive Rule Follower Follows Rules, but Creative Loose Cannon Incorrigible Enterprises Microbots Subsystems Systems Enterprise of Enterprises Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
26. Where does the role of the Professional Enterprise Architect fit within an enterprise? 18 Align Professional Enterprise Architect E N T E Blueprint for improving the enterprise C R L P R Leadership I I E S N E T O Strategic Direction to “follow the Blueprint” O P P E E Department Managers R R A A T T I I O O Management of Blueprint implementation Coordination N N S S Staff Implementation of Blueprint Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
27. The Enterprise Architect role is not so different from some other familiar roles 19 We may be able to increase understanding of and respect for our profession by comparing it to other professions that already enjoy respect from the general public. Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
28. For example, building construction 20 Customer Requirements Architect Blueprint for constructing the building Foreman or General Contractor Direction to “follow the Blueprint” HVAC Electrician Carpenter Specialty Contractors “Uh-oh, this won’t work!” Plumber Tilesetter Mason Coordination Management of selective Blueprint specifications Laborers Implementation of Blueprint Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
29. 21 #$%@*! “Bob!” But wait, comparing ourselves to construction architects already got us into trouble ! Let’s try a different analogy... (Remember these?) Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
30. Classical music has an “EnterpriseArchitect” too; it’s the composer 22 Audience Requirements Composer (The “Architect”) Blueprint for performing a composition Conductor “Uh-oh, this won’t work!” Direction to “follow the Blueprint – MY WAY” Concert Master Section Heads Principal Oboe Principal Cello Principal Flute Management of selective Blueprint specifications “ Bow this way; Breathe here; ...” Section Musicians Implementation of Blueprint Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
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32. We need to engage the leaders of the Enterprise “top-down”
33. We need to have a clear-cut strategy for establishing and evolving the EA role within the Enterprise
34. We need to convince leaders that they need to take ownership of the Enterprise Architecture and use it as their primary source of self-assessment and direction
35. We need to acquire leadership’s understanding that to do so requires the Professional Enterprise Architect to be their partnerCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
36. But, what about that other road, the “Stealth” road? Does it matter which road you take? 24 Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
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38. If you have to, just keep working underground and let your work blossom without a name! 26 “The Name” Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
39. 27 Thank you! Enjoy the Summit! Contact Information: Kathie Sowell: kathie.sowell@gmail.com 703 620-0639 for SowellEAC Enterprise Architect Certification Programsunder auspices of National-Louis University, use contact info above or www.SowellEAC.com Next class planned for September Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell
