What’s Enterprise Architecture Planning?

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Enterprise architecture planning is a business strategy that helps identify the processes or architectures that ultimately support the functioning of a business and bring the business closer to achieving its stated goals. Once identified, the strategy further helps organize these architectures into a coherent and logical sequence that aids in the overall process of effective business planning. Inherent in the Enterprise Architecture Planning function is making the best use of the information available, both in terms of historical and current data, which helps to point the way into the future.

The actual phases or cycles that are part of the basic enterprise architecture planning or EAP effort can be divided into four basic sections or levels. The first has to do with the initiation stage of effort. During this stage, data is collected and organized in some way, with the aim of being able to qualify it and use it to establish the basic structure of the business and determine what tools or resources will be needed. It is during this phase that basic decisions are made that impact all future planning and implementation associated with the project.

A second stage, or layer, of enterprise architecture planning has to do with assessing the current state of the business and how it relates to the proposed design. Since historical data has already been collected and organized, the task of understanding not only the current situation but how the situation came about is relatively straightforward. This here-and-now assessment also helps form the basis for all future project-related activities.

Setting the goal or goals for the project is often considered the third stage of enterprise architecture planning. Here, the task is to identify the desired end result of the project, using the current situation as a starting point. Since all the data related to assets and tools, including business information systems, workforce, and even equipment and software programs have been addressed before, forming accountable and achievable goals is generally not a difficult task.

The fourth layer, or stage, of enterprise architectural planning is the development of a road map to move from current circumstances to identified goals. It is during this stage that the details of how to make that move are formulated. Assignments are made, check and balance systems are implemented, and the schedule for completing essential activities is developed. Every aspect, including costs, is addressed and taken into consideration during this phase. Assuming each of these steps has been successfully accomplished, the end result will be a clear understanding of where the effort is starting, what needs to be accomplished, and how to take systematic and logical steps toward those stated goals.

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