Enterprise Architecture for Digital Transformation

The key role of an enterprise architect is to create a scalable framework of IT assets and business processes aligned to a corporate governance that supports the organization to deliver on its goals and strategic objectives. 

They must also develop the internal management consulting skills to influence and educate business leaders and executives on the importance of certain IT decisions or risks. 

Two key responsibilities of an EA are to:

• Provide enterprise architecture services to stakeholders: EA helps business and IT leaders make smart investment decisions by providing context and support to help teams collaborate, building better flexibility, agility, and autonomy in decision making, and enabling faster speed to value and time to market. 
  
• Select tools to support the EA discipline: EA tools are constantly evolving, and the right selection and use of EA tools are critical to supporting business transformation and optimization efforts.
  

Enterprise Architecture helps organizations formulate business strategy through outlining the framework needed for IT delivery. It also informs business and operating models, and leads the enterprise responses to disruptive forces such as changes to markets, customers, supply chains and technology. 

The way that the architects themselves contribute to the organization’s success in this is through streamlined management of all moving parts of the framework and strategy, plus identifying gaps and improvements across the organization’s execution of that strategy.

The key differentiator between Enterprise Architects and other technical architects across an organization is the EA’s ability — and requirement — to operate as an internal consultant across all pillars of the business.

Rather than focusing on one singular disciple, the EA has to cover the breadth of IT frameworks as it applies to each individual business unit, assess its viability and then design a roadmap to success for that unit, via scalable IT solutions.