Enterprise Architecture Process of a Telecommunication Company - A Case Study on Initialization

Abstract

Objectives such as business-IT-alignment, lower costs, higher quality, better time-tomarket and greater customer satisfaction are some of the drivers for the development of enterprise architecture (EA) process. Several companies in Europe and the USA, and likely elsewhere, are currently developing their EA processes. The overall question in companies is how EA and architecture processes could give more value to business demands. Despite the obvious need for research on companies’ EA processes, to the date only a few case studies have examined EA processes in companies. The present study, therefore, attempts to address this need for further understanding of EA processes. The study examined and analysed the initial phase of EA process in Elisa, a Finnish telecommunications company. The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of some aims related to the EA process initialization phase. The case company’s EA process choices relating to communication practices, EA requirements management and, relationships and collaboration between the EA process and the company’s other processes were described and analysed in terms of the aims in the initial EA phase. These aims included identification and definition of the role and responsibilities for EA process, the process establishment in the organisation as well as the adaptation of process related work. In addition, it is important to achieve benefits of EA work quickly. It is suggested that these areas could also be relevant for other companies in the initial stages of an EA process. In addition, the waterfall approaches were identified not well suitable for the development of EA processes and EA.