Serve Actionable Knowledge Empower Agile Architects

1. Association of Enterprise Architects International Committee on Enterprise Architecture Standards Serve Actionable KnowledgeEmpower Agile Architects Tyson Brooks, BAE Systems Haiping Luo, Government Printing Office aeaassociation.org

2. Topics • Where is My Tool?! • Knowledge challenges faced by architects • Tool Assembling • The purpose and approach of the EA Knowledge Digest (EAKD) project • The Tool Cabinet • An overview of the EAKD system • Using the Tool Cabinet • Use scenarios performed in the EAKD system • Call for Tool Help • How can EAKD do better? Could you help? aeaassociation.org

3. Where is My Tool ?! • Architecting tasks are knowledge-demanding and time-pressing. • Architectural problems are complex. • Good EA knowledge and practices exist in many enterprises, But when architects perform their work, they often can’t find suitable knowledge items and methods for ready use. • Have to research or create reasoning, processes, and methods in a hurry. Common challenges faced by architects: aeaassociation.org

4. What is the Problem ? Why do architects reinvent the wheel while preaching others not to? It is not because we don't want to reuse existing knowledge, but that it is not easy to do so. • EA knowledge, similar to the architectural problems we have, is: • Scattered in many places; • Too much, too bulky to digest and use; • Not in ready forms for quick application; • Not related with actions/tasks we encounter. aeaassociation.org

5. The Gap… Knowledge Items Tasks Establish governance Principles Commit top management Standards Monitor gaps Guidance Analytics Identify portfolio Metrics Pace transitions Processes Simulate scenarios Minimize risks Models Minimize waste Methods Harmonize approaches Collaborate development Lessons learned Caveats Coordinate Implementations aeaassociation.org

6. Tool Assembling Collect and Organize EA knowledge items to enable architects to find suitable knowledge and apply best practices quickly and properly. The purpose of the EA Knowledge Digest: aeaassociation.org

7. Tool Assembling: the Approach • Collect • Abstract • Organize • Associate to Actions • Serve aeaassociation.org

8. The Tool Cabinet • The EA Knowledge Digest System has two components: • The open site; • The repository. fill contents EAKD Open Site Public serves contents is part of distills, categorizes, integrates, associates populate knowledge items EAKD Repository Journal of EA subscribers serves knowledge in context aeaassociation.org

9. The EAKD Open Site • The EAKD Open Site: • http://aeablogs.org/eakd/ • Features: • Global, open access • Simple structure for easy navigation • Rich and growing contents • Real-world templates and documents • Who can access: • Open to public. Self-registered users can post. aeaassociation.org

10. The EAKD Repository • The EAKD Repository (sampling site): • http://70.182.190.254:6464/ABTWSAC.EXE/ArchieAnonymous?<aEA-public> • Features: • Knowledge item collection; • Structured with attributes, relationships, and relationship notes; • Dynamically served in a wide range of contexts, especially in EA management context; • Linked to architecting activities, problems, and lifecycle; … aeaassociation.org

11. Where is the “Actionable”? Knowledge Items: methods, principles, models, … structured, organized, associated EA Management Activity Context (example) aeaassociation.org

12. Document proceeds to Align proceeds to If not acceptable, goes back to If acceptable, proceeds to Evaluate Nurture periodically returns to The EA Management Methodology: Activity Types and Relationships • This is a basic approach to enable effective coordination. • This approach has four iterative activity types: • Document • Align • Evaluate • Nurture aeaassociation.org

13. EA Management Methodology Matrix aeaassociation.org

14. EA Management Methodology Matrix • Each “y” indicates that the Activity Type (in column) uses this method group (in row) to perform the function (in row). The method group can be drilled down to a set of methods applicable for the task. • For example, the “y” for the cell of “Document & Engage” can be read as: “To Document EA information, it is necessary to engage stakeholders. The Engage method group will provide applicable methods to get stakeholders engaged.”

15. Document Existing Architecture Strategic Mgmt Perspective Business Mgmt Perspective Resource Mgmt Perspective Risk Mgmt Perspective Electronic Mgmt Perspective Continue Architecture Management Project Closure Maintain Architecture Measure operation performance Identify future change needs. Analyze Existing Architecture EA Statistics EA Diagnoses EA Analyses EA Reports EA Recommendations EA Management Core EA Drivers EA Principles EA Governance EA Information Base EA Intelligence Capacity Design & Ratify Target Architecture EA Design EA Policy EA Standards EA Processes Evaluate Implemented Changes Output Quality Analyses EA Performance Analyses Implement EA Plans Build new components Align existing components Monitor changes Plan & Commit Transitions EA Planning EA Governance Process EA Review EA Stakeholder Mgmt Architecting Lifecycle aeaassociation.org

16. Architecting Lifecycle Management aeaassociation.org

17. Using the Tool Cabinet • Use Scenarios and Demo: • Finding a template for developing an EA baseline assessment • Finding EA knowledge items: principles, standards, … • Finding methods to perform a task. • Finding knowledge items to complete a phase in the EA Management Lifecycle. aeaassociation.org

18. Using the Tool Cabinet (cont.) 1. Finding a template for developing an EA baseline assessment Step 1: Type Your Request aeaassociation.org

19. Using the Tool Cabinet (cont.) 2. Displays Results Location Within EAKD Google Search Technology For Additional Information aeaassociation.org

20. Using the Tool Cabinet 2. Finding EA knowledge items: principles, standards, … aeaassociation.org

21. Using the Tool Cabinet 3. Finding a method to perform a task. http://70.182.190.254:8080/cogweb/servlet/ReportingServlet?reportId=16 Aug 8, 2007 - a|EA-DC Forum aeaassociation.org 21

22. Using the Tool Cabinet 3. Finding a method to perform a task (details) Aug 8, 2007 - a|EA-DC Forum aeaassociation.org 22

23. Using the Tool Cabinet 4. Finding knowledge items to complete a phase in the EA Management Lifecycle http://70.182.190.254:8080/cogweb/servlet/ReportingServlet?reportId=14 aeaassociation.org

24. Call for Tool Help • How can EAKD achieve its goal better? • Could you help EAKD to identify, distill, organize, and associate knowledge items with EA management actions? aeaassociation.org

25. Association of Enterprise Architects International Committee on Enterprise Architecture Standards Summary • EA Knowledge Digest is up and running. • Purpose: collect EA knowledge items and serve knowledge packages to architects in action. • Populating and structuring the Digest is an ongoing process. • Call for community participation to shape and fill the Digest and to make it usable and useful. • Appreciations: • Thanks to John Gotze for hosting the EAKD; • Thanks to Agilense, Inc., and Cogniscape, LLC for donating their EA repository and modeling tools, EA WebModeler and CogniViz, to support the EAKD project. • Contact Information • Tyson Brooks, EAKD Project Manager (tyson.brooks@baesystems.com) • Haiping Luo, Assistant Project Manager (haiping@aeajournal.org) aeaassociation.org