A blueprint for solving problems in your IT architecture

Abstract

An IT architecture is a series of principles, guidelines, drawings, standards, and rules that guide an organization through acquiring, building, modifying, and interfacing IT resources. These resources include hardware, software, communication protocols, application development methodologies, database systems, modeling tools, IT organizational structures, data, and more. It should provide a purposeful and executable design so that you know what you need to build, what you are actually building, and how you can make transformations at maximum speed with minimal cost and disruption. Blueprints visualize and communicate that design by illustrating architectural adaptability points. They are the focal point for understanding the relationships between IT assets and for changing those relationships. Many companies end up with an architectural mess because they never institute a clear and manageable architecture definition. They take isolated actions under the rubric of architecture, but never institute effective ways to govern, change, and record architecture. The article gives advice on how to achieve effective IT architecture management.