Topic: Architecting the Business is different from Architecting IT

Speaker # 3
Speaker: Tim Westbrook, EA Directions
Topic: Architecting the Business is different from Architecting IT
Key points of interest :
• The speaker tried to make the point that Architecting the Business is different from Architecting IT. I think he seriously missed the point that Architecture is defined with Capability and stakeholder in mind, as several speakers at the conference stressed that point.
• When IT Architecture is defined the business goals are perhaps – reduce IT Operating cost, reduce risks of IT to the business. The stakeholder is frequently the CTO, CIO or CFO.
• When we architect Business, the goals are business growth either through Organic or Acquired.
• These two approaches are actually very well defined in TOGAF 9, I strongly encourage the readers of this blog to review their TOGAF 9 book before they take Tim’s presentation to heart.
Further Discussion Threads:
• The focus of EA work should be on the define, develop and exploit the Capability from the point of view of the stakeholder?