Enterprise Architectures for Information and Operational Technologies for Asset Management

Abstract

With the advancements in technology, information systems are continually increasing in size and complexity. More and more businesses are looking to these systems to provide them with greater business efficiencies and services through consolidation and integration. Businesses are also using information systems to provide governance and directions by enabling quality decision support through system information analysis and related capabilities. The ability to successfully deliver these complex information systems is creating greater challenges for businesses and system developers. As a result, businesses are turning to a variety of enterprise architectures for policies and technical choices to achieve business standardization and integration requirements of the firm’s operating model. It is particularly important for asset management, since the operational technologies utilised in asset lifecycle management can also be classed as information systems. Technology management for asset management, thus, calls for an all encompassing architecture that caters for the individual needs of operational and information technologies, as well as that of their integration. There are a number of recognised architecture frameworks available today, many of which providing similar principles and strategies. However, all of these frameworks are unique in regards to how their frameworks are used and implemented. This paper develops the case for enterprise IT architectures in asset management and provides a comparison of architecture frameworks in relation to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The paper focuses on three recognised architecture frameworks and provides recommendations for additional considerations of each with reference to operational and information technologies for asset lifecycle management.