The enterprise system architect role is a systematic ability to realize the role responsible for architecting the enterprise system architecture in support of the enterprise system manager role.
The enterprise system manager role uses the enterprise system architecture in support of enterprise system management of the enterprise system capability.
The enterprise system architect role is responsible for the enterprise system architecture requirements, design, documentation, analysis, planning, integration of the elements, and the sustainment of the architecture, throughout the architecture’s development, deployment, operation and improvement for the full life of the architecture including replacing or retiring the architecture and/or the architecture’s elements.
The enterprise system architect role has a focus, goals, objectives, responsibilities, skills, abilities, knowledge and experience to design, analyze, plan, develop, document, improve and maintain an architecture for the enterprise to support a systematic way of conceiving, organizing, governing, enabling, managing, analyzing, planning, executing, controlling, monitoring, measuring, improving and assuring the whole of the enterprise (what the enterprise is and what the enterprise does), and the success of the enterprise as a whole, for the purposes of satisfying the cost, schedule, ability and socio-cultural needs and requirements of the customers and stakeholders, serving the enterprise mission, and sustaining the existence of the enterprise system.
The enterprise system architect role is responsible for the integration of the enterprise, business, process, information, IT, system and service architect roles.
The enterprise system architect role is also responsible for the integration of the enterprise system architecture and the customer, vendor/supplier, and industry standards/regulations architectures and integrating the enterprise, business, process, information, IT, system and service architect roles with these external architectures.
The enterprise system architect role is the architectural role leading the enterprise system architecture design and development and as the leading architectural role has interdependencies with all team members and what the team members do. With the knowledge of how everyone fits in and the setting of expectations between everyone, the team will be a team and the enterprise system architect role will be able to best utilize the talent of the individuals.
As shown in Figure 38 – Enterprise System Architect Concept Diagram, as the enterprise increases in size and complexity, it drives a need to allocate as necessary the enterprise system architect role responsibilities for the enterprise system architecture to the
- enterprise architect role
- business architect role
- process architect role
- information architect role
- IT architect role
- system architect role
- service architect role
Figure 38 – Enterprise System Architect Concept Diagram
EA Practitioners in the Enterprise System Architect Role
In practice, the responsibilities of the enterprise system architect role are divided into architectural sub-roles. When the enterprise system manager role is divided, the enterprise system manager role enables and assures these managerial sub-roles are aligned in their efforts so their efforts properly align and each also aligns with all efforts throughout the enterprise.
It should be noted in practice, the enterprise system architect role must be filled by the enterprise system manager in situations where an enterprise system architect position does not exist in the enterprise.
It should also be noted in practice, the enterprise system architectural sub-roles are often combined to provide an organizationally needed job (a “specialty”) to address special needs and other organizational needs and limitations of the organization. A common example is the organizational position “Chief Strategist” may combine the enterprise architect role and business architect role into one organizational position.