How to model an enterprise architecture? What tools and templates can I use?
Hello community members,
At the moment, I'm tasked to develop the enterprise architecture of the organization and I have a couple of questions below:
What capability models/mapping (business architecture) do you know/exist and how do they eventually connect to the application, data, and infrastructure architecture?
Choosing the right EAM tools involves various steps that are aimed to ensure smooth integration and maximum benefits. Some points collected with the help of my peers may be of help to you.
Understanding the benefits of EAM tools: Through advanced and integrated features, EAM tools help you to uncover and avoid unmanaged IT applications that would otherwise increase your cloud spend and create potential security risks for sensitive data. Once you understand the benefits that modern EAM tools have to offer, you can focus on finding the right solution for you and your EA strategy.
Choosing an EAM tool based on your EA program: When opting for an EAM tool, make sure that it helps you achieve your business and IT goals. These could be application portfolio management, technology risk management, post-merger IT integration, or an overall business transformation.
Assessing needs of stakeholders: Since you don't want to create another IT silo, you should ask yourself what informational needs each stakeholder has and how EA can bridge knowledge gaps. Ideally, the tool will foster cross-department collaboration and optimize workflows. Stakeholders should be able to access data and drive their own analysis. On top of that, QA mechanisms will improve overall data quality.
Reviewing the data model of prospective EAM tools: Make sure to evaluate the data model of your prospective EAM tools. You should be able to align it with your current terminology and attributes and assign authorization roles with ease.
Measuring the onboarding process against goals: Once you have settled on an EAM solution that fulfills your current and foreseeable future needs, you can start with the onboarding process. It’s important to set initial goals and keep measuring the process as you go. From data mapping, imports, workspace reviews, and success KPIs – ideally, the tools allow you to use the desired form of measuring your onboarding success and keep track of the work in progress.
Some products suggested by my peers are below
BiZZdesign Enterprise Studio
Avolution Abacus
Software AG Alfabet
Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect
Hope the above will help you choose the right solution for your requirement.
Find out what your peers are saying about SAP LeanIX, Sparx Systems, erwin by Quest and others in Enterprise Architecture Management. Updated: January 2025.
Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) is a strategic discipline that outlines a comprehensive framework to manage and align an organization’s structure, processes, and information systems to achieve its goals and objectives efficiently.Enterprise Architecture Management provides organizations with the methodologies and tools necessary to effectively map out their current structures and future states. This discipline helps navigate the complexities of aligning IT strategies with business...
If you are in retail, here is a video of an interactive tool I've created for use in retail.
iVURM (interactive Virtual Unified Retail Model) - YouTube. It is quite an extensive model currently over 500 meg in size.
FYI: I've been doing this type of work since the 1970's.
@Linda NamayanjaPMP,CBPA,ITIL,
check this out: https://resources.bizzdesign.c...
Hi Linda, can you describe the project in more detail ? Leonard
Hi @Linda NamayanjaPMP,CBPA,ITIL ,
Choosing the right EAM tools involves various steps that are aimed to ensure smooth integration and maximum benefits. Some points collected with the help of my peers may be of help to you.
Understanding the benefits of EAM tools: Through advanced and integrated features, EAM tools help you to uncover and avoid unmanaged IT applications that would otherwise increase your cloud spend and create potential security risks for sensitive data. Once you understand the benefits that modern EAM tools have to offer, you can focus on finding the right solution for you and your EA strategy.
Choosing an EAM tool based on your EA program: When opting for an EAM tool, make sure that it helps you achieve your business and IT goals. These could be application portfolio management, technology risk management, post-merger IT integration, or an overall business transformation.
Assessing needs of stakeholders: Since you don't want to create another IT silo, you should ask yourself what informational needs each stakeholder has and how EA can bridge knowledge gaps. Ideally, the tool will foster cross-department collaboration and optimize workflows. Stakeholders should be able to access data and drive their own analysis. On top of that, QA mechanisms will improve overall data quality.
Reviewing the data model of prospective EAM tools:
Make sure to evaluate the data model of your prospective EAM tools. You should be able to align it with your current terminology and attributes and assign authorization roles with ease.
Measuring the onboarding process against goals: Once you have settled on an EAM solution that fulfills your current and foreseeable future needs, you can start with the onboarding process. It’s important to set initial goals and keep measuring the process as you go. From data mapping, imports, workspace reviews, and success KPIs – ideally, the tools allow you to use the desired form of measuring your onboarding success and keep track of the work in progress.
Some products suggested by my peers are below
Hope the above will help you choose the right solution for your requirement.