Please WelcomeKathie SowellSowellEAC

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, 2009Kathie SowellPresident, Custom Enterprise Solutions, LLCCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost3Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Literal Interpretation*:Be a rugged individual!Don’t follow the crowd!(But also, you’d betterbe 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 thereHad worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally layIn 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 justtrying to justify the poet’s choice by getting all dramatic.His choice of roadreally didn’t make anydifference at all.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere 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

What does this have to do with Enterprise Architects?4There are two divergent roads I have seen that lead to getting EA understood and incorporated into an organization.EAStealthy ApproachDirect ApproachCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

What would lead us to choose the “Direct Approach?”5 “Nobody understands us!”Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Enterprise Architects: Are you suffering an identity crisis?Has your own mother ever said this to you: “Honey, I’m proud of what you do, whatever it is”?6Do you feel that no one understands what you do for a living?Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Do you feel that no one understands what you do for a living?

Has this ever happened to you?7Well... I’m an Enterprise Architect.Hi there! Name’s Bob!Sales is my game!What do you do?No, no... It’s not likethat. You see...IGreat! Great!I’ve got this littleplumbing problem...Great! Great! Whatever...So long!#$%@*! “Bob!”Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Is your mailbox stuffed with these?8Dear 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 businessprofitable in all seasons and alleconomic conditions!Only $999.00/yearCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

How can we use the “direct approach” to help people understand what we do? We can define our profession9We can spread understanding of our professionWe can build acceptance of and respect for our professionWe 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

We can spread understanding of our profession

We can build acceptance of and respect for our profession

We can promote our profession to the extent that we become integral to decisionsregarding Enterprise direction

Okay, then, what should we tell people that a Professional Enterprise Architect does?We pinpoint problems in our organizations10We make models of the business processesWe make models of the technology used in our organizationsWe analyze the modelsWe diagnose the causes of the problemsWe “align the technology with the business”We recommend problem solutions and transition pathsWe partner with Enterprise leaders in determining strategic direction and in assessing progress over time Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

We make models of the business processes

We make models of the technology used in our organizations

We analyze the models

We diagnose the causes of the problems

We “align the technology with the business”

We recommend problem solutions and transition paths

We partner with Enterprise leaders in determining strategic direction and in assessing progress over time

Can we be more succinct?11Short 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 valuesOutsideClientOperationsInternalEnterpriseOperationsProfessional EnterpriseArchitectCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

What constitutes an effective Enterprise Architecture Team?Professional Enterprise Architect:Certified and experienced in EA development, modeling, integration, and presentationDomain Experts:Intimately familiar with business and mission operations addressed in the architectureArchitecture Analyst:Knowledgeable in the types of processes and systems pertinent to the architectureTechnically astute and experienced in ability to conduct process/system assessments, trade-offs, and linkages to the operations supportedBridge between the Enterprise Architect and the Process and/or Systems Engineer Process and/or Systems EngineersIn-depth understanding of the processes and/or technologies pertinent to the As-Is and To-Be EAHonest 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? 12Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

The EA Team and Beyond13ENTERPRISE STAKEHOLDERSAuxiliary Team SupportDomain ExpertBusiness Process EngineerProfessional EA ArchitectSystems EngineerToolsAnalystsGraphicsInvestorsLeadershipEA FrameworkClientsEA TeamCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Now, let’s focus on the Enterprise ArchitectThink logicallyThink holistically (grasp the big picture)Communicate with human beingsClientsTechie ones“Suits” Non-techiesAnti-techiesCommunicate in complete sentencesThink, function, and communicate even when the Internet is down !Visualize14An Enterprise Architect should be able to: Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

A good Enterprise Architect will be able to think visually and express thoughts visually15Why? Because people think in pictures.Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

16Who Dunnit?What’s Killing Her?Where do Enterprise Architects come from?Traditionally:Systems engineersSoftware engineersBusiness and systems analystsOut-of-the-boxMusiciansVisual ArtistsWritersDetectives 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

17Good EnterpriseArchitects come from this regionDisciplineGrasp/VisualizationBut, more important than one’s background, is the potential one has to be an effective Enterprise ArchitectTotally AnalObsessive Rule FollowerFollows Rules, but CreativeLoose CannonIncorrigibleEnterprisesMicrobotsSubsystemsSystemsEnterprise of EnterprisesCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Where does the role of the Professional Enterprise Architect fit within an enterprise?18AlignProfessional Enterprise ArchitectENTEBlueprint for improving the enterpriseCRLPRLeadershipIIESNETOStrategic Direction to “follow the Blueprint”OPPEEDepartmentManagersRRAATTIIOOManagement of Blueprint implementationCoordinationNNSSStaffImplementation of BlueprintCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

The Enterprise Architect role is not so different from some other familiar roles 19We may be able to increase understanding of and respect forour profession by comparing it to other professions that alreadyenjoy respect from the generalpublic.Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

For example, building construction20Customer RequirementsArchitectBlueprint for constructing the buildingForeman orGeneral ContractorDirection to “follow the Blueprint”HVACElectricianCarpenterSpecialty Contractors“Uh-oh, this won’t work!”PlumberTilesetterMasonCoordinationManagement of selective Blueprint specificationsLaborersImplementation of BlueprintCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

21#$%@*! “Bob!”But wait, comparing ourselvesto construction architects already got us into trouble ! Let’s trya different analogy...(Remember these?)Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Classical music has an “EnterpriseArchitect” too; it’s the composer22AudienceRequirementsComposer (The “Architect”)Blueprint for performing a compositionConductor“Uh-oh, this won’t work!”Direction to “follow the Blueprint – MY WAY”ConcertMasterSection HeadsPrincipalOboePrincipalCelloPrincipalFluteManagement of selective Blueprint specifications“ Bow this way; Breathe here; ...”Section MusiciansImplementation of BlueprintCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

So, what do we need to do to ensure that the Enterprise Architect achieves the requisite level of prominence? This is a challenge confronting the CAEAP!Some food for thought .....We need to make sure we are selecting the right people to become Enterprise Architects23We need to have a poster child (or more) to convince Enterprise leadership of EA’s ROIWe need to engage the leaders of the Enterprise “top-down”We need to have a clear-cut strategy for establishing and evolving the EA role within the EnterpriseWe 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 directionWe need to acquire leadership’s understanding that to do so requires the Professional Enterprise Architect to be their partnerCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

We need to have a poster child (or more) to convince Enterprise leadership of EA’s ROI

We need to engage the leaders of the Enterprise “top-down”

We need to have a clear-cut strategy for establishing and evolving the EA role within the Enterprise

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

We need to acquire leadership’s understanding that to do so requires the Professional Enterprise Architect to be their partner

But, what about that other road, the “Stealth” road? Does it matter which road you take?24Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Yes, because sometimes, the Stealth Road is your only optionSometimes, resistance to the “EA” word is such that the Direct Approach just will not work25Go EA!Sometimes, even “executive buy-in” is not enough, e.g., when that executive retires and takes his buy-in with himCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

Sometimes, even “executive buy-in” is not enough, e.g., when that executive retires and takes his buy-in with him

If you have to, just keep working underground and let your work blossom without a name!26“The Name”Copyright 2009, P.K. Sowell

27Thank you! Enjoy the Summit!Contact Information:Kathie Sowell: kathie.sowell@gmail.com 703 620-0639for SowellEAC Enterprise Architect Certification Programsunder auspices of National-Louis University, use contactinfo above or www.SowellEAC.comNext class planned for SeptemberCopyright 2009, P.K. Sowell