Compared to many industry practices, EA is considerably an emerging discipline which still take time to mature, in last two decades, there are many challenges literally EA programs face, organizations need to analyze them and understand the underlying causes
- Fitness for purpose. Consistent definition and understanding of EA as a discipline adds to challenges. Most organizations stand up EA to “fix” an organization without giving it any purpose. Often, consultants/contractors try to sell the Titanic of EA before they can prove a sailboat which can float. This is what often results in annoying the clients and has lead to the view of EA being shelf-ware.
- Senior executives buy-in and continuous focus and support upon the EA program. This is like a chicken and egg issue. Executives would have continuous support if EA can deliver value, but EA need continuous executive supports to show value. EA is in a domain where you don’t find too many quick wins. In addition, a successful EA would often lead to corporate culture change. Without strong senior executives’ commitments, corporate culture change just won’t happen. Many feel that time and money is being wasted till they start seeing in the results.
- Understand Stewardship and Ownership differences. Too often an EA attempts to take ownership of a business process and ends up getting blamed. An EA is a Steward to practice strategic EA Leadership & Operational Stewardship –> alignment of execution with Strategy is extremely critical for EA success.
- EA Maturity: EA engagement model and governance. This gears toward corporate processes, politics and people issues. Enterprise Architecture is simply a heavy burden to a lot of people and projects if EA engagement and governance model is not efficient and effective. Somehow, fragmented EA engagement model and governance process is very common at work place. It seems taking forever to streamline. In other words, Governance and Compliance inward is extremely important.
- Organizational Maturity. A mature organization is base to start a successful EA program; on the other side, an effective EA program improves organizational maturity. Too many organizations try to institute an EA program when the organization is not prepared to do so. Often, leadership hears or gets the pitch that EA will save the day and they start a program, without supporting the program, thinking that “doing” EA will fix everything. EA requires wide preparation and active participation.
- Business/Architecture Alignment –> This has to be earned by EA Team and should not be considered a blank check or an entitlement, as this would require relationship management and transparency in delivery to match the business priorities. PMO and Architecture team are critical for earning and establishing the trust.
- Move from Vendor/Group/Institute-centric EA to Customer-centric EA. Advance from just being DNAor “enterprise genotype” (a full nomenclature of enterprise artifacts) to provide a formal link with “enterprise phenotype” (a set of observable characteristics such as performance) and business ecosystem.
- Constant jockeying with “tactical project savings” vs. “sustainable strategic advantage” argument…(classic misalignment of project team goals with architecture team goals!). Starting too big, that the EA initiative doesn’t get success as originally intended. It is extremely important to start small and produce results to gain trust. Planning and prioritizing some quick wins to demonstrate what change a complete EA can bring to a enterprise. Though it is very difficult since it can backfire at times. Still, EA needs to demonstrate directly quantifiable ($$$) value – contribution to company’s bottom line or direct savings as a result
- Mature EA Team: The EA team which don’t just believe in Framework and Technology but also has the capability to carry the business with them and got a thick skin to sail through the politics and policies Staff. Also, it is not about the “chief architect,” it is about the team of architects/support staff, a mature EA team.
- EA Skills/Talent: Architecture is more of an art than a science and requires more skills than certifications. Enterprise Architect requires broad knowledge from many aspects of, business domains knowledge, technologies project management experience, and organizational skills. There are many channels to mature as an Enterprise Architect. Enterprise Architects with different maturing paths may see the same organization with very different challenges.