Enterprise Architecture Compliance: the Viewpoint of Evaluation

Abstract

Enterprise Architecture (EA) provides a holistic view of entire organization, including various viewpoints such as business, information, systems and technology. It is of interest for academics and practitioners alike. It has been suggested that EA is an approach for controlling the complexity and constant changes in the organization and its business environment, assisting organizations in realizing a multitude of positive business impacts. As the organization transforms from the current EA state towards the improved target state through a set of projects, at least the compliance between the projects and EA should be examined to assure that the organization is moving towards the desired direction. The concept of EA compliance has not been a target of academic research, but practitioners have addressed the concept more extensively in the form of compliance evaluation method descriptions, checklists, white papers and standards. The concept has especially been addressed in the US Government. Nonetheless, the area of research is fragmented, lacking a comprehensive perception of EA compliance and its evaluation, stressing only the regulatory and corporate governance connotation of the term, and focusing mainly on the EA compliance of projects. However, we consider this perception to be too narrow, and want to study if there are any other aspects that should be addressed. Therefore, in this paper, we address the concept more extensively, aiming to develop a broader, unbiased understanding of the concept of EA compliance. Particularly, based on a literature review and a focus group interview of EA practitioners from both information technology (IT) user and service provider organizations, we describe the various possible perspectives of EA compliance, and discuss various areas of its evaluation. Especially, EA compliance evaluation goals, evaluation targets and evaluators are addressed. This extensive view to EA compliance enables organizations to assure that the transition towards the target state is controlled more systematically, for example by guiding investments and development projects to comply with EA.