ILLUMINATION Book Chapters
A Modern Enterprise Architecture Approach — Chapter 4
Core Architectural Components of Enterprise Modernization and Digital Transformation
Introduction and Context
This chapter covers key points to address the rapid technological changes and growing demands of consumers for digital products and services using a proven method.
This book includes my experience of an innovative model used as a framework and solution development approach that I formulated and described leveraging technology and enterprise architecture fundamentals.
Business organizations of any size face challenges in responding to the rapid technological changes and increasing demands of consumers for digital products and services. As a result, business organizations seek to find optimal solutions to mounting business problems occurring for technical and business reasons.
From my experience and observations in large business organizations, the optimal solution to address current and emerging problems, especially related to artificial intelligence projects, is to architect digital transformation requirements and objectives at an enterprise level and design them methodically as described in the 14 steps below.
1 — Architectural Vision
Every architectural initiative starts with a vision. As a top-down approach, the architectural thinking method mandates setting the vision first at a high level.
Vision refers to the future with creative imagination, collective wisdom, and insights at a conceptual level to achieve desired goals.
Vision sets the scene and shows us where we want to be in the future. Even though everyone has imagination and a dream, a strategic vision refers to a leadership capability. It requires substantial intelligence, knowledge, skills, expertise, and experience.
2 — Architectural Strategy
Once we have a compelling vision for the digital world, it is an opportune time to set the strategy. We know where we are now on the digital journey and strive for where we want to go.
First, our destination needs to be marked. Our digital strategy helps us reach our goal using a master plan. The master plan can be a high-level roadmap to take us to the destination we set.
We need to proceed with a clear strategic roadmap; otherwise, we can get lost in the details and the constant noise.
3 — Current Situation of Business and Technology
Understanding and accepting our current situation is crucial. It doesn’t matter how good or bad, but we need to accept reality as it is at this initial stage.
The current state is our baseline and starting point. Knowing where we are can help us set our vision. However, the current situation for a legacy enterprise can be complex and difficult to compile.
Everything is interrelated in an enterprise system. It is possible to notice that some old systems or solutions might not be documented adequately. There might even be no documentation at all.
Thus, we need to conduct a gap analysis and take appropriate actions to address the gaps.
Despite all challenges and risks, we need to start from somewhere to identify the current environment and collect as much information as possible by taking essential measures.
This task can be daunting in the transformation lifecycle. Thus, we shouldn’t be discouraged. On the contrary, it is a necessary step and pays dividends in the long run.
4 — Business and Technical Requirements
Enterprise modernization and digital transformation initiatives can pose many requirements from multiple angles.
In addition, requirements for digital transformation can be interrelated and have numerous facets. Most of the time, requirements can be seen as simple from the outset. However, they are not easy to manage practically.
Therefore, we need to make a concerted effort to understand the requirements from all angles in a structured way. Requirements involve multiple processes and stakeholders.
These stakeholders can be from different parts of the organization with varying goals, roles, and responsibilities. We need to identify them.
Both users and systems have their unique and standard requirements. Besides, there are different requirements for different kinds of users.
For example, internal and external users, technical, executive, and management users can position other conditions in requirements format. Likewise, systems also can have their unique requirements.
5 — Architectural Context
After making the architectural decisions and obtaining the necessary approvals, the next challenging task is to provide a representative picture of the solution on a single page.
This illustrated representation is usually called the solution context showing the critical dependencies. The Solution context is a work-product template found in many established methods as a sample.
Creating a solution context requires abstracting skills. We need to represent a large volume of information in small pictures by setting concise relationships among the components.
We can apply the proverbial principle of one thousand words in a single image.
This abstract thinking skill is an example of architectural and design intelligence that adds to the digital transformation solution process.
Setting the context for any solution can help us communicate it to relevant stakeholders in an understandable manner. Context adds clarity to understanding the overall solution.
6 — Use Cases for Products and Services
Understanding the use cases for digital transformation solutions is an essential architectural responsibility.
Dealing with use cases requires different thinking modes, such as looking at things from the user’s perspective. Therefore, observing and being an observer simultaneously is a critical mental capability.
More specifically, a use case is a specific situation depicting the use of a product or service of a solution by the consumers.
We develop use cases from the users’ perspective. We need to understand how the consumers intend to use a particular component or aspect of the solution.
Usually, the functional requirements can help us to formulate the use cases. Alternatively, in some circumstances, use cases help prepare the applicable requirements.
Use cases and requirements are interrelated. We need to analyze them together without isolation.
7 — Architectural Solution Feasibility
An architectural method can guide us in thinking about the feasibility of our transformation solution roadmap by looking at the risks, dependencies, and constraints along the way.
A solution’s feasibility requires a viability assessment work-product in the Enterprise Architecture discipline. It is a template covering all aspects of our solution from an operability perspective.
For example, we can use a viability work-product template from an established method like TOGAF or our organization’s proprietary methodology.
Beware that the viability assessment can be categorized under different names in various proprietary methodologies. We may check which work product is used in our organization’s method to capture risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies.
Developing a comprehensive viability assessment can help us mitigate critical risks, resolve existing issues, capture assumptions, and address challenging dependencies and possible interdependencies.
Missing this crucial step in our digital solution approach can result in dire consequences in the long run. Therefore, this is a mandatory step in the solution lifecycle.
Most of the time, assessing viability also requires making many trade-offs to reach optimal solution outcomes. I explain an architectural trade-off for a solution in the subsequent section.
8 — The transition from the Current to Future State
After understanding the requirements and clarifying the solution’s use cases, we need to apply them to the current state.
The current state shows us where we are now. By understanding the current state and its transformation requirements, we set a future state and develop a roadmap to reach the target transformation goals.
The future state requires a substantial amount of analysis and predictions. We can consult multiple subject matter experts in this phase to ensure the future state reflects our vision, mission, and solution strategy. We need to ensure that it meets identified requirements.
This architectural approach to understanding the current environment and setting the future state applies to any digital solution we engage in daily. This structured approach is instrumental for the success of our digital transformation initiatives.
Once we set the future state, the next critical step is to assess the feasibility of the construct, deployment, and consumption goals.
9 — Architectural Trade-offs
When architecting digital transformation solutions, including emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Cloud computing, IoT, and Big Data, we make substantial amounts of trade-offs.
When making trade-offs, we need to consider critical factors, such as cost, quality, functionality, usability, and several other non-functional items, such as capacity, scalability, performance, usability, and security.
We make trade-offs to create a balance between two required yet incompatible items. In other words, a trade-off is a compromise between two options. For example, it is possible to trade off quality and cost for individual objects.
Sometimes, dealing with trade-offs can pose a dilemma. For example, we may tear ourselves between two competing and compelling options. In these difficult situations, we must revisit our priorities.
Re-examining our priorities, especially those set by the critical stakeholders for the solution objectives, can provide valuable clues and necessary guidance.
In addition, we can also revisit our approved vision, mission, and solution strategy as sometimes our memories may fail to remember exact details in rapid-paced transforming environments like enterprise modernization and digital transformation initiatives.
There may also be times when we make some architectural trade-offs to deal with uncertainties and ambiguities. We can contrast and compare situations by considering critical risks to deal with these trade-offs.
It is impossible to develop an architectural solution without taking risks.
However, it is also possible to convert these risks into opportunities. Thus, we can mitigate them methodically and measurably. Now let me introduce the next critical point covering architectural decisions.
10 — Architectural Decisions
Each trade-off requires some architectural decisions to support the vision. Moreover, these crucial decisions can have substantial implications for the success or failure of our digital solutions.
We need to make architectural decisions very carefully and measurably. Each decision can have a severe impact and multiple implications on the solution outcomes. Changing the architectural decisions at later phases of the solution life cycle may be costly.
Some implications can be cost-related or compliance constraints, while others can relate to non-functional aspects such as performance, scalability, capacity, availability, security, or usability.
In addition, our architectural decisions must be validated with subject matter experts and communicated with multiple stakeholders for their acceptance and approval to reach the optimal consensus on the validity of the decision.
11 — Architectural Models
We need to develop multiple models for digital transformation solutions covering emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Models are essential work-products in architectural solutions.
A model is the proposed structure typically on a smaller scale than its original.
Once we draft a specific solution at an abstract level and our stakeholders understand it, the next important step in the architectural thinking process is to represent the conceptual level in further detail by describing each component and the relationships.
Describing abstract representations in concrete detail requires much mental exercise, including dealing with multiple patterns and stimulating our thinking abilities.
Some of the vital Architectural models which we can apply to the potential modernization solutions are Component Model, Operational Model, Performance Model, Security Model, Availability Model, Services Model, and Cost Model.
12 — High-Level Designs
Once the architectural models are in place, we need to create basic high-level designs. Digital transformation initiatives require the development of multiple work-products covering high-level designs based on the solution context.
The use of basic high-level designs to see the big picture for each solution building block can be instrumental in digital transformation solutions. First, however, the high-level design needs to be well understood, accepted, and approved by all stakeholders.
Let’s be mindful that changing these designs can be challenging and costly at the later stages of the solution life cycle. To this end, we ensure that the high-level designs are produced using our strategy and roadmap and fully aligned to reach the optimal solution’s goals.
13 — Detailed Designs and Specifications
Like any other enterprise IT system, both enterprise modernization and transformation solutions covering emerging technologies need to correctly deliver their detailed designs and specifications.
Therefore, applying a comprehensive configuration management practice for solutions components can be practical and helpful when dealing with specifications.
In solutions of digital transformation and enterprise modernization, a specification identifies the enterprise ecosystem items precisely. Since specifications require precision, delivering the correct specification is essential for enterprise applications and associated critical business and emergency responses.
System specifications need to be accurate, reliable, and fast when collecting data, communicating information, sharing data, and making proper decisions.
Nevertheless, unreliable communication of the specifications by various silos, wrong choices made by those specifications, and their cumbersome layout can lead to disastrous results when attempting to detail the digital transformation solutions.
Finding inaccurate detailed designs or wrong specifications during the implementation and production support phase can be very cost-prohibitive due to massive re-work requirements.
These unexpected errors shatter the whole solution from every angle, and as digital transformation architects, we are the first responsible for the consequences.
14 — Dynamic, Agile, and Flexible Governance
Technical governance is a core requirement of digital transformation initiatives. These transformation programs require a particular governance model due to their nature.
Therefore, a dynamic and flexible governance model is essential for transformation initiatives.
The traditional stringent and extreme rule-based or oppressive governance models can be roadblocks to progress. From my experience, agile principles best suit dynamic and flexible governance models.
Governance committees in digital transformation programs can be complicated and sophisticated at multiple levels. As a result, there are many roles and responsibilities for governance committees.
For example, transformation architects can run the architecture review boards or design authority forums established for complex digital transformation programs.
We can use several governance frameworks based on our solution domains. For example, one of the common frameworks for technical governance in the industry is COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and related Technology).
COBIT framework can help organizations gain optimal value from their IT investments. Thus, they maintain a balance by gaining benefits, optimizing risk levels, and using resources. Other governance models can be based on the industry to which the enterprise belongs and adheres.
Conclusions and Takeaways
A systematic approach to enterprise modernization and digital transformation initiatives is mandatory when dealing with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Cloud computing, and IoT.
Architectural and design thinking skills can guide the governance of initiatives.
The takeaway for enterprise architects is that while following a top-down strategic approach rigorously, many initiatives also require a bottom-up tactical approach diligently.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
Previous Chapters of the Book
A Modern Enterprise Architecture Approach — Introduction
A Modern Enterprise Architecture Approach — Chapter 1
A Modern Enterprise Architecture Approach — Chapter 2
The Paradox and Importance of Simplification in Enterprise Architecture — Chapter 3
A Modern Enterprise Architecture Approach — Chapter 4
Other Books by the Author Available on Medium
On the Cusp of the Artificial Intelligence Revolution — Preface
Digital Intelligence — Chapter 1
The Power of Digital Affiliate Marketing -Chapter 1
Powerful Life-Changing Hacks That Truly Transformed My Life
As a new reader, you might check my holistic health and well-being stories reflecting on my reviews, observations, and decades of sensible experiments. I write about health as it matters. I believe health is all about homeostasis.
If you are a new reader and find this article valuable, you might check my holistic health and well-being stories reflecting on my reviews, observations, and decades of sensible experiments.
Sample Health Improvement Articles for New Readers
I write about various hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, glutamate, and histamine.
One of my goals as a writer is to raise awareness about the causes and risk factors of prevalent diseases that can lead to suffering and death for a large portion of the population.
To raise awareness about health issues, I have written several articles that present my holistic health findings from research, personal observations, and unique experiences. Below are links to these articles for easy access.
Metabolic Syndrome, Type II Diabetes, Fatty Liver Disease, Heart Disease, Strokes, Obesity, Liver Cancer, Autoimmune Disorders, Homocysteine, Lungs Health, Pancreas Health, Kidneys Health, NCDs, Infectious Diseases, Brain Health, Dementia, Depression, Brain Atrophy, Neonatal Disorders, Skin Health, Dental Health, Bone Health, Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain, Brain Fog, Chronic Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Elevated Cortisol, Leptin Resistance, Anabolic Resistance, Cholesterol, High Triglycerides, Metabolic Disorders, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Thyroid Disorder, and Major Diseases.
I also wrote about valuable nutrients. Here are the links for easy access:
Lutein/Zeaxanthin, Phosphatidylserine, Boron, Urolithin, taurine, citrulline malate, biotin, lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, CoQ10, PQQ, NADH, TMG, creatine, choline, digestive enzymes, magnesium, zinc, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Cod Liver Oil, and other nutrients to improve metabolism and mental health.
Disclaimer: Please note that my posts do not include professional or health advice. I document my reviews, observations, experience, and perspectives only to provide information and create awareness.
I publish my lifestyle, health, and well-being stories on EUPHORIA. My focus is on metabolic, cellular, mitochondrial, and mental health. Here is my collection of Insightful Life Lessons from Personal Stories.
If you enjoy writing and storytelling, you can join Medium, NewsBreak, and Vocal as a creator to find your voice, reach out to a broad audience, and monetize your content.
You may also check my blog posts about my articles and articles of other writers contributing to my publications on Medium. I share them on my website digitalmehmet.com. Here is my professional bio. You can contact me via weblink.
As a writer, blogger, content developer, and reader, you might join Medium, Vocal Media, NewsBreak, Medium Writing Superstars, Writing Paychecks, WordPress, and Thinkers360 with my referral links. These affiliate links will not cost you extra to join the services.
You might join my six publications on Medium as a writer by sending a request via this link. 19K+ writers contribute to my publications. You might find more information about my professional background.
If you enjoy reading, you may join Medium with my referral link for limitless access to my stories and other writers.
