Positioning Enterprise Architecture

In the previous chapter, we have discussed the needs for enterprise architecture. This chapter is concerned with enterprise architecture as a means to meet these needs. We will start this chapter with a historical perspective on the concept of architecture as a means of obtaining insight into, as well as harnessing, complexity. To gain a better insight into the role of enterprise architecture in governing transformations, Section 3.2 will then discuss the governance paradigm and relate this to the role of enterprise architecture. Based on this discussion, Section 3.3 then continues by identifying seven possible applications of enterprise architecture from a governance perspective. Using this as a context, Section 3.4 provides a discussion of several definitions of enterprise architecture, while also providing the definition of enterprise architecture as used in this book. To make this definition more specific and tangible, Section 3.5 will discuss the key concepts underlying enterprise architecture, while Section 3.6 will highlight the benefits of enterprise architecture in relation to the needs identified in the previous chapter. Finally, Section 3.7 takes a first brief look at the competencies needed from the architect.