accompanying slides

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis

damian.bramanis@uwa.edu.au

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia

• Member of the Group of Eight

• Research University

• Collegiate style

– Devolved IT

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Higher Education Environment

• Financial pressures

• Upsurge in the use of IT

• Demand for better value-for-money

• Large legacy

• Green IT

• Lots of DIY

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Is Higher Education Different?

“to respect ideas and their free expression”“to identify and to remove restraints”

“No one… has the authority to make exceptions or grant waivers with respect to the foundation policies”

Harvard College Mission Statement

ExxonMobil Standards of Business Conduct

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Is Higher Education Different?

“invest to ensure that the right technology, skills, behaviours and intellectual property are available for the pursuit of the board goals”

“Die Luft der Freiheit weht” (The wind of freedom blows)

BP Values

Stanford University Motto

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Is Higher Education Different?

“freedom of thought and expression”“the encouragement of a questioning spirit”

“Leverage technology to deliver superior performance and growth. …to deliver world-class performance in operational excellence, cost reduction, capital stewardship and profitable growth”

Cambridge University Core Values

Chevron Vision

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Is Higher Education Different?

• De-centralised decision making

• Requirement for diversity

• Innovation reigns supreme

• Many stakeholders

• ... so where does architecture fit?

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Traditional Enterprise Architecture

Since its inception, EA was intended to be highly prescriptive, institutionalizing a centralized approach to design that relies on standardization...

As a result, innovation was often stifled in the name of standardization.

Gartner, 2008

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Tools, Standards, Models and Methods

• Apply equally to all organisations

• May need to be adapted

• Choose those that fit your purpose

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

TheMost Important Thing

PEOPLE!Should take a largeproportion of your

time

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Just Enough

It is better to have “just enough” now,

rather than attempting to have everything later

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Collaborate

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Photograph © Toni Blay 2005

It is easy for an architect to be perceived as a general

“problem solver”

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Solving Big Debates

People are more likely to support an outcome if they understand and support the

process used to reach it

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Use What Already Exists

• Current State Architecture

• Standards

• Processes

…don’t reinvent the wheel

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Lessons Learned Recap

• Tools and techniques are generic

• Focus on people

• Aim for “just enough”

• Collaborate

• Don’t become a general problem solver

• For big debates, focus on the process

• Build upon what already exists

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

What Next – Improving Maturity

ea2008 Does Corporate-Style Enterprise Architecture Work in Higher Education?

Damian Bramanis The University of Western Australia

Conclusion• Corporations and

Higher Education institutions are different

• Therefore, approach EA differently

• Think like an urban planner