EABOK
Encyclopedia
The Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge (EABOK) is a guide to Enterprise Architecture
produced by MITRE
(specifically MITRE's Center for Innovative Computing and Informatics), and is substantially funded by US government agencies. It provides a critical review of enterprise architecture issues in the context of the needs of an organization. Because it provides a "big picture" view of needs and methods, some enterprise architecture practitioners recommend it as the "first port of call" for a business establishing an enterprise architecture unit.
The current printable version is dated 06-Feb-2004 and edited by Dr Paula J Hagan. It has been approved for public release; distribution unlimited. New sections and expansions of current "stubs" are under development within MITRE and will be released to the web on an ad-hoc basis.
It treats Enterprise Architecture as not including merely diagrams and technical descriptions, but gives a holistic view that includes US legislative requirements and guidance, as well as giving technologists a better understanding of business needs with a quick explanation of the Value chain
for a business as outlined by Michael Porter
.
It is worth reading between the lines of many sections, such as the possible implied criticisms of enterprise architecture units that live solely by the diagram from Zachman's original concepts that enterprise architecture frameworks were necessary:
Another example of possible implied criticism of some EA practitioners:
(Italics are not in the original article)
It is just such comments that make many experienced information systems and business professionals appreciate the EABOK: while it reviews a range of approaches, it is not frightened to put a personal point-of-view.
Enterprise architecture practitioners should be aware that the discipline has evolved since the most recent publication: perhaps the most notable being the extensions of DODAF, including MODAF
, and the work at the Object Management Group
to create a model that satisfies both frameworks.
While many of the references to legislation and guidance are US-centric, the issues and the references are useful to government agencies and businesses across the world.
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
produced by MITRE
MITRE
The Mitre Corporation is a not-for-profit organization based in Bedford, Massachusetts and McLean, Virginia...
(specifically MITRE's Center for Innovative Computing and Informatics), and is substantially funded by US government agencies. It provides a critical review of enterprise architecture issues in the context of the needs of an organization. Because it provides a "big picture" view of needs and methods, some enterprise architecture practitioners recommend it as the "first port of call" for a business establishing an enterprise architecture unit.
Overview
The following paragraph is taken from MITRE's web pages:The current printable version is dated 06-Feb-2004 and edited by Dr Paula J Hagan. It has been approved for public release; distribution unlimited. New sections and expansions of current "stubs" are under development within MITRE and will be released to the web on an ad-hoc basis.
Alternative titles
While the title of the main printed document is "EABOK", it is also known as:- "The Guide to the Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge" (on the MITRE web pages)
- "The Guide to the (Evolving) Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge" (a smaller title on the cover page of the printable document)
Perspective
The key to the EABOK is that it (and the discipline it describes) is evolving (with some of its knowledge areas yet to be fleshed out), and the way it places enterprise architecture in context. Because there are so many different frameworks and viewpoints about enterprise architecture, it provides a critique of alternatives (such as between the original Zachman Framework, TOGAF and DODAF). The bibliographies are particularly useful.It treats Enterprise Architecture as not including merely diagrams and technical descriptions, but gives a holistic view that includes US legislative requirements and guidance, as well as giving technologists a better understanding of business needs with a quick explanation of the Value chain
Value chain
The value chain, is a concept from business management that was first described and popularized by Michael Porter in his 1985 best-seller, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance.-Firm Level:...
for a business as outlined by Michael Porter
Michael Porter
Michael Eugene Porter is the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School. He is a leading authority on company strategy and the competitiveness of nations and regions. Michael Porter’s work is recognized in many governments, corporations and academic circles globally...
.
It is worth reading between the lines of many sections, such as the possible implied criticisms of enterprise architecture units that live solely by the diagram from Zachman's original concepts that enterprise architecture frameworks were necessary:
Another example of possible implied criticism of some EA practitioners:
(Italics are not in the original article)
It is just such comments that make many experienced information systems and business professionals appreciate the EABOK: while it reviews a range of approaches, it is not frightened to put a personal point-of-view.
Enterprise architecture practitioners should be aware that the discipline has evolved since the most recent publication: perhaps the most notable being the extensions of DODAF, including MODAF
MODAF
The British Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework is an Architecture Framework which defines a standardised way of conducting Enterprise Architecture, originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence....
, and the work at the Object Management Group
Object Management Group
Object Management Group is a consortium, originally aimed at setting standards for distributed object-oriented systems, and is now focused on modeling and model-based standards.- Overview :...
to create a model that satisfies both frameworks.
While many of the references to legislation and guidance are US-centric, the issues and the references are useful to government agencies and businesses across the world.
External links
- Guide to the (Evolving) Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge (Current as of 2007-01-01)
- "The Edge", an EA newsletter from MITRE