Practical Model-Driven Enterprise Architecture

Bridge the gap between theory and reality by implementing real-world examples using the Sparx EA tool and ArchiMate® 3.1 specification to develop sophisticated enterprise architecture models serving every unit in your organization

Key Features

• Discover the various artifacts that enterprise architects need to develop for stakeholders to make sound decisions
• Build a functional enterprise architecture repository that is rich in information, references, and metamodels
• Learn how to use Sparx Enterprise Architect from scratch

Book Description

Most organizations face challenges in defining and achieving evolved enterprise architecture practices, which can be a very lengthy process even if implemented correctly. Developers, for example, can build better solutions only if they receive the necessary design information from architects, and decision-makers can make appropriate changes within the organization only if they know the implications of doing so.

The book starts by addressing the problems faced by enterprise architecture practitioners and provides solutions based on an agile approach to enterprise architecture, using ArchiMate® 3.1 as an industry standard and Sparx EA as the modeling tool. You'll learn with the help of a fictional organization that has three business units, each expecting something different from you as the enterprise architect. You'll build the practice, satisfy the different requirements of each business unit, and share the knowledge with others so they can follow your steps. Toward the end, you'll learn how to put the diagrams and the content that you have developed into documents, presentations, and web pages that can be published and shared with any stakeholder.

By the end of this book, you'll be able to build a functional enterprise architecture practice that supports every part of your organization. You'll also have developed the necessary skills to populate your enterprise architecture repository with references and artifacts.

What you will learn

• Discover how enterprise architects can contribute to projects and departments within organizations
• Use Sparx Enterprise Architect to build a rich architecture repository
• Learn about the ArchiMate® 3.1 specification as you apply it in real-world projects
• Use the focused metamodel technique to build the information necessary for maintaining your repository's consistency and accuracy
• Understand the importance of keeping architectural artifacts simple yet eye-catching
• Define an operational model that fits your initial needs and expands as required

Who this book is for

This book is for enterprise architects at all architectural layers and practices of any maturity level. Many of the artifacts suggested in this book are inspired by The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF®); however, familiarity with TOGAF® is not required. Whether you work within the business, applications, data, or technology layers, this book covers examples that apply to your work. Although not mandatory, experience modeling in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect using any modeling language will be helpful. No prior knowledge of ArchiMate® is required to get started with this book.

Table of Contents

1. Enterprise Architecture and Its Practicality
2. Introducing the Practice Scenarios
3. Kick-Starting Your Enterprise Architecture Repository
4. Maintaining Quality and Consistency in the Repository
5. Advanced Application Architecture Modeling
6. Modeling in the Technology Layer
7. Enterprise-Level Technology Architecture Models
8. Business Architecture Models
9. Modeling Strategy and Implementation
10. Operating the EA Repository
11. Publishing Model Content

Mudar Bahri is an enterprise architect with long, progressive experience in implementing The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) in large and midsized organizations. He is an independent enterprise architecture mentor and consultant and helps architects to build and develop practical Enterprise Architecture (EA) skills that can provide decision-makers with useful artifacts. He is a certified TOGAF 9.1 Enterprise Architect with experience in other EA frameworks and project management methodologies. He has used TOGAF for developing digital transformation strategies, cloud migration plans, solution architectures, and proposals. He believes that enterprise architecture is meant to bridge gaps, not to create new ones, so it has to be simple, practical, and serve everyone.

Joe Williams has over 40 years of experience in software engineering and architecture on many platforms and spanning several business domains, including retail, banking, health insurance, telecommunications, environment monitoring, and government systems. He holds a BS degree in information systems from the University of San Francisco and is a TOGAF 9.1 certified practitioner. Joe preaches the practice of modeling every chance he gets. He is an expert in the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and has helped establish architecture practices at several organizations. He has been modeling solutions using Sparx Systems' Enterprise Architect since 2007 and other modeling tools since 1995. He is currently retired and living in northern California.