SIM Forms New Enterprise Architecture Working Group

At their October meeting the Society for Information Management's Executive Board approved the creation of the SIM Enterprise Architecture Working Group (SIM EA WG). A copy of the announcement that appeared in SIM's e-news follows.  A copy of the proposal that went before the SIM board is at posted at http://courses.unt.edu/kappelman/SIMEAWG/Proposal.pdf.  The WG is in its formative stages and will hold its first meeting in Dallas, Texas on January 3rd and 4th, 2007.

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Excerpt from: SIM News Extra: October 17, 2006

SIM Forms New Enterprise Architecture Working Group

If things like alignment, rapid introduction, complexity reduction, speed, and agility are design objectives that answer the question "what do we want it to look like?," then perhaps at least part of the answer to the question "how do we accomplish it?" is Enterprise Architecture (EA). But, perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves is, "can IT afford not to seize the opportunity to be 'the keeper of all the knowledge' about the enterprise?" Being the keeper of the EA has the potential to ensure IT's seat at the strategic table. The SIM Enterprise Architecture Working Group, which was endorsed by the SIM Executive Board on October 6, is currently accepting volunteers. Complete the volunteer form http://www.simnet.org/content/surveys/private.cfm?SurveyID=93 to join the Enterprise Architecture Working Group today! 

The SIM Enterprise Architecture Working Group is being formed to identify and share processes, methods, tools, concepts, and best practices to enable IT organizations to understand, create, and manage EA in partnership with the business. This will in turn help these same IT organizations substantially enhance the way they manage change, reduce complexity, reengineer processes, plan, strategize, govern, manage projects, and deliver value. The Working Group will achieve these objectives by:

1. Developing a common understanding of what EA is and why it is important to the organization.

2. Proposing materials for the CIO to use to make EA simple to comprehend and verbalize to his/her peers and others in the enterprise.

3. Determining, through a survey of SIM membership (and other groups if possible), the current state of EA practices. These metrics can then serve as benchmarks so SIM members can determine how their organizations compare with others. This may also include a methodology for an organization to "self-survey" itself against the collective metrics.

4. Understanding the challenges and opportunities for the CIO's organization in leading EA.

5. Sharing how organizations have successfully implemented and managed EA.

6. Identifying EA best practices including the critical initiatives and enabling processes for the successful leadership and management of EA. 

If you have any questions, please contact Professor Leon Kappelman at kapp@unt.edu

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Updated November 24, 2006 (LAK)