An open letter to Enterprise Architecture from IT Service Management !!
Posted by Aswin Kumar
Dear Enterprise Architecture Group,
I am writing this letter to express my desire to work towards a closer and effective relationship between our groups. We can use the synergies to build a leaner and a better IT organization.
Let me put forward my viewpoint with respect to the references to Enterprise Architecture in the ITIL v3 framework.
ITIL always evolved towards adapting a common framework of practices that unite all areas of IT service provision towards a single vision – delivering value to the business.
If we look into the business goals of Enterprise Architecture (EA), it is also focused on the realization of value through logically organizing business processes with the IT infrastructure. In a tactical sense, EA teams are responsible for developing/maintaining Enterprise Data Model, System/Physical architecture diagrams, Technology standards, Future state architecture vision etc.
Taking a holistic perspective of both the worlds, Enterprise Architecture and IT Service Management both aim to achieve a living blueprint of services with the architecture and service assets underneath.
According to the Service Design book under ITILv3, Technology architecture is one of the five aspects of Service Design. Architecture requirements analysis is essential to ensure operational capability & maintainability of the new or changed service. It also recommends that Service Design needs to ensure that Architectures are flexible, concise, simple, integrated & aligned with all business strategies & needs. Furthermore, it suggests that Enterprise Architecture should be an integrated element of the Business Architecture and should include Service Architecture, Application Architecture, Data Architecture, IT infrastructure Architecture & Environmental Architecture.
I completely agree that all types of Architectures need to be maintained in the Service Knowledge Management system. Yes, SKMS can truly be combined to provide a top-down view to business ranging from highly generic to highly specific ones. The business architecture repository can add a feed of the unique service architectures available under SKMS that can further assist the Enterprise Architects focus on critical services with huge business value.
Similarly, there are multiple overlaps between the ITIL v3 and the Enterprise architecture guidance. There are organizations which have changed the Metamodel of their Configuration Management Systems (CMS) to include the missing data related to Enterprise Architecture requirements. Further, the CMS data feeds into the EA repository. Also, in some companies ITSM is managed by people called “Architects”. Innovation is on…
Having said all this, question is that do we want to take a next step towards exploring new areas of mutual collaboration?
Please let me know your feedback comments and do not hesitate to email me in case of any quick clarifications.
Thank you!
- IT Service Management
Comments
Hi Aswin,
very original thought and an excellent area to explore using ITSM principles into EA and vise versa.
I will look forward for more detailed insight into this whole new concept.
Posted by: Shraddha Tilloo | January 20, 2010 04:31 AM