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Archives for November 2013

Stop talking about enterprise architecture. Go solve a problem.

November 25, 2013 By brenda michelson

Many years ago, as a newly minted lead architect, I had a memorable initial 1×1 with our organization’s CIO. After reviewing my hand drawn (pencil on paper) application and information landscape, and hearing the CIO’s vision for common front-ends across retail, catalog and (burgeoning) web channel, we discussed the state of the union, and the inevitable gap from here to there.

After I listed ten or so gap items, I looked to the CIO for verification and prioritization. Instead, the CIO said, “I don’t care what you do, just do something.”

I admit. I was taken aback by the CIO’s response. Afterwards, I sat in my cube wondering why the organization created this new (enterprise architecture predecessor) position, if the big boss didn’t care what I worked on.

Then though, thankfully, I interpreted the CIO’s message differently, correctly. The CIO didn’t care which of the litany of items I picked, because tackling any item would move us closer to the ultimate, customer-centric vision.

This is the perspective I draw from as I advise architects and enterprise architecture groups who struggle in starting, or revitalizing an architecture practice. To get traction, don’t get tangled up in a framework or methodology, go solve a problem.

The problem doesn’t even need to reside in the (traditional) enterprise architecture domain. Nor does the solution have to be perfect, or in classic form. Just move your organization closer to there, from here. Repeat as required.

While this problem-solving, action-oriented approach can slow-down the generation of traditional artifacts and processes, it does accelerate value generation, and really, isn’t that the point.

Need to grow your architecture practice and credibility? Go solve a problem.

Filed Under: enterprise architecture Tagged With: archive_0

Link: CEOs look toward disruptive technology more than CMOs & CIOs

November 24, 2013 By brenda michelson

I have to wonder if these CIOs are leery of backlash days (all in for alignment) when thinking tech-first, so don’t dare cite tech disruption over market factors:

“…now two years in a row, CEOs rank technology factors as the most important external force shaping the future of their enterprises. That’s ahead of market factors, macro-economic factors, people skills, regulatory concerns, and so on. And it’s up from being the 6th most significant concern to them back in 2004.”

“…What’s interesting in IBM’s report is that CEOs rank such threats and opportunities from technology higher than CIOs and CMOs”

Source: chiefmartec.com referring to recent IBM study: Customer Activated Enterprise
via Diigo

Filed Under: links Tagged With: CIO, disruption, ibm, stream

Link: Steve Jones: Single Canonical Fail

November 24, 2013 By brenda michelson

“The Single Canonical Form is a straight-jacket on the enterprise, it’s a dumb idea based on an unachievable idea.  It’s time for IT to grown up and work differently.”

Source: Business SOA
via Diigo

Filed Under: links Tagged With: architecture, infusion, stream

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Brenda M. Michelson

Brenda Michelson

Technology Architect.

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