

Enterprise Architecture Matters

Adrian Grigoriu

Enterprise Architecture, the anatomy and physiology of the Enterprise

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How do we describe an Enterprise? Let me give you an well known example, the human body and illustrate the way the enterprise should be described, by comparison. 
The description of the structure and operation of the Enterprise is shown here by analogy with the anatomy and physiology of the body. 

The structure is illustrated by anatomy while the operation by physiology. Anatomy illustrates the body by depicting its 

* parts: the head, torso, neck, limbs and organs like lungs, heart, liver...

* systems in separation: circulatory, nervous, skeletal, muscular systems... 

These reflect two points of categorisation, two taxonomies. Systems look like cross body sections in a CT (computer tomography) scan. 

Physiology describes how the vital flows such as breathing, digestion etc operate over these various systems and parts. The digestive process, for instance, depicts the food ingestion, distribution and transformation into energy from mouth to stomach and beyond. The respiratory process shows how the body processes and transports oxygen to organs.


* A body part (organ) implements a few of the body vital processes. For an Enterprise Architecture, the term "Function" (or Capability) plays the same role, grouping related business processes. 

* A body system depicts the assembly of a few parts of a body with similar functionality. In EA, a View is an abstract cross-section in the Enterprise, looking like a virtual cut or a CT (computer tomography) picture.  A layer is a physical View consisting of elements of same type, such a layer of muscles in the body or applications in EA.

* The organs or body parts, are interconnected by nerves, arteries... In EA, the interconnections between business functions are Lines that are implemented by connections.

A vital flow is a sequence of activities performed in organs (body parts). Like breathing. In EA, a "Flow" (aka value stream) is defined as a sequence of processes (in Functions) delivering the service/product.

A body interacts with the environment i.e. eats , breathes, feels... In the Enterprise, Use Case scenarios describe the interaction with the environment and stakeholders.

A doctor, a surgeon cannot diagnose or operate without being familiar with all the body parts, systems and vital processes. If he cuts the wrong link (read artery, nerve...) the operation will be successful but the patient probably dead.

Similarly, an Enterprise Architect, or those who need to operate the enterprise and implement strategy, cannot properly do so without knowledge of the business Functions, Flows, Layers and Views (FFLV) e.g. the anatomy and physiology of the enterprise.


But we don't have a clue how an enterprise operates, end to end. We are at the beginning of the journey to understand, fix and improve the Enterprise. 

We have first to understand the enterprise anatomy and physiology. 

The FFLV  (Functions-Flows-Layers-Views) EA framework, described in my book, blogs and site,  can be used to describe the anatomy and physiology of the enterprise.

The description of the generic enterprise parts - body anatomical parts - can be done using the GODS (Governance-Operations-Development-Support) business architecture framework described  by same sources and this link.


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Adrian Grigoriu


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