Abstract
Enterprise Architecture (EA) is the process of designing, developing, and applying certain models and rules, which will guide the implementation technical infrastructure, technology, information flows, organizational structures, in an organization. In the beginning, when the business is established, it will not be the same after a given period, as developments will be implemented through expansion and implementing the use of technology. When introducing certain developments and improvements, the organization should have designed models and rules to guide in the implementation (Suh & Wagner, 2017). Through expansion, the business will have various branches in different geographical locations, which should be coordinated and managed in a central or specific location. Such coordination will be achieved through utilization of EA.
Introduction
Organizations have various strategies, which helps in pursuing and realizing the goals and targets set after a given period. EA will help in the implementation of such strategies in the organization. The strategies designed in an organization with a broad geographical operation will be executed with the help of EA practices and principles including technology changes, process, business, and information. Such practices will help the organization to motivate, identify, and achieve the anticipated changes ( Dang & Pekkola, 2017 ). Enterprise architects are the staff entrusted with the responsibility of conducting business processes and analysis and drafting conclusions from the information and data collected with the aim of the goals and targets of the organization including durability, efficiency, effectiveness, and agility. This study will identify the focus on the contributions of EA to an organization whose operations are in diverse geographical locations.
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EA helps the organization designing and redesigning the phase of the business. An organization is required to make some changes in the organizational structures during changes, acquisitions, and mergers. An organization with businesses in different geographical areas might decide to venture into new locations, merge or acquire new businesses, which requires designing or redesigning of the business. In such situations, the organization will utilize EA for successful implementation of the strategy through designing the business such it can satisfy the needs of the clients ( Suh & Wagner, 2017 ). An organization with businesses in different locations requires processes and process standards, which will help in guiding the staff working in locations away from the management location. Processes and process standards can be implemented through EA. Processes and process standards will enable the organization to standardize business processes and enforce discipline among the staff in different locations. Additionally, it will enable the organization to process integration, consolidation, and reuse when undertaking its operations in different locations.
Project management is another significant contribution of EA to the organization operating in various locations. With spread business locations, the organization needs to enhance and improve communication and collaboration between the staff and stakeholders. An organization will only succeed to achieve its goals and targets when all the staff and stakeholders communicate and collaborate when undertaking the assigned duties ( Niemi & Pekkola, 2017 ). EA through project management will provide the necessary structures and drafts, which will help to improve and to maintain the mutual collaboration and communication between all the stakeholders in the organizations.
Moreover, EA will help in recommending and defining consistent and complete projects expectations, deliverables, and project scope, which can be accomplished by the organization without straining. Every organization has specific requirements that should be avail for the organization to meets its goals and targets. For example, the organization will collect system requirements from stakeholders, users, customers, and suppliers, which will help in undertaking its operations. EA will increase the rate collecting such requirements for the stakeholders through publishing documentation, which will guide the staff, stakeholders, and suppliers in various locations regarding the effective ways if channeling the requirements to the organization.
System development is an important aspect, which will help the organization to manage the business operations in different locations. Through system development, the organizations can design specific systems, which will allow the staff in various locations to post the transactions directly to the server n the central location. EA through system development will help the organization in ensuring efficient resource allocation, quality system designs during the process of developing, and testing the systems needed. Such systems should be tested before full implementation in the organization such that errors and failures can be avoided.
Decision-making and management of information technology is an essential aspect of an organization with branches in different geographical locations ( Dang & Pekkola, 2017 ). Sound decision-making is achieved through incorporating all the staff and stakeholders in the organization. EA will help the organization in standardizing and enforcing discipline in the process of planning IT activities. Such contribution will help the organization in reducing the time spend when seeking opinions and ideas when making decisions, as technology is incorporated. For example, the organization will receive opinions and ideas from staff in different business locations through email and technology related modes of communication instead of visiting the locations physically.
It is vital for the organization operating businesses in various locations to implement EA. Ea will help such organizations to achieve their goals and targets. EA will incorporate technology services, organizational design, project management, system development, and other aspects, which will help the organization to achieve its goals ( Niemi & Pekkola, 2017 ). Organizations with widespread business locations will require successful development and execution of strategies offered through EA implementation.
References
Dang, D. D., & Pekkola, S. (2017). Systematic Literature Review on Enterprise Architecture in the Public Sector. Electronic Journal of e-Government , 15 (2).
Niemi, E., & Pekkola, S. (2017). Using enterprise architecture artefacts in an organization. Enterprise Information Systems , 11 (3), 313-338.
Suh, A., & Wagner, C. (2017). How gamification of an enterprise collaboration system increases knowledge contribution: an affordance approach. Journal of Knowledge Management , 21 (2), 416-431.
