In the early days of computing, technology simply automated manual processes with greater efficiency. As technology evolved, innovations enabled new capabilities and processes in the enterprise that were driven by IT. Gradually, IT changed the business, but not necessarily in alignment with the business strategy. This lack of alignment resulted in significant resource waste and missed opportunities, placing the organization at a competitive disadvantage in the market.
To align the strategies of business with IT, a new approach for managing IT has been developed called Enterprise Architecture. Just as architecture provides a blueprint for constructing a building, Enterprise Architecture provides a blueprint and road map for aligning business strategy with IT.
The individual models in an enterprise architect discipline are arranged in a logical manner, and it provides an ever-increasing level of detail about the enterprise, including the following:
- Its objectives and goals
- Its processes and organization
- Its systems and data
- The technology used
