Enterprise architecture: definition, content, and utility

Abstract

Although the concept of an enterprise architecture (EA) has not been well defined and agreed upon, EAs are being developed to support information system development and enterprise reengineering. Most EAs differ in content and nature, and most are incomplete because they represent only data and process aspects of the enterprise. This paper defines an EA. Basic EA concepts are presented. The purpose and utility of an EA and its place in the information system environment are discussed. To facilitate understanding, a generic EA is provided. Through the generic model, each major component of an EA is defined and the component's purpose and use are presented. The generic EA described here will be used to develop enterprise-specific EAs. This paper emphasizes linkages between the EA and information systems development by depicting the information systems viewpoint. To delineate how an EA is useful in the information technology (IT) world, this paper shows how an EA relates to both an information systems architecture (ISA) and an information architecture (IA). >