IT Architecture Frameworks (Foundational & Delivery)

There are many different frameworks that can be used for managing the delivery of cost-effective IT services and the development of its architecture foundation.  Many frameworks only cover a specific aspect of IT, such as the information technology architecture.  Many IT architecture frameworks focus on what we call the “purist” aspects of an organization: Process, Data, Application/System, and Technology.  Together, they compose the Enterprise Architecture of an organization, which is the relationship among people, business processes, data, applications/systems, and the underlying technology supporting its applications and systems.  Thus, organizations engage the services of Data, Process, Application/System (also Software Engineering), and Technology Architects, respectively.  You’ve probably guessed that an Enterprise Architect leads the development of a single holistic enterprise architecture model for the whole of the organization (from all architecture perspectives including Business Services, Business Processes, Information, Applications, and Technology).  And there is a Solution Architect who provides a bridge between specific business problems and issues, and the solutions which are needed to support them.  We also need an expert or niche architects, known as Domain Architects, who are specialists with in-depth knowledge within a particular domain of expertise, such as ERP, Cloud, Mobility, AI, etc. 

Although most organizations need to lay an architecture foundation by developing its Process, Data, Application/System, and Technology Architectures, they also need to engage “non-purist” forms of architecture to implement enterprise-based IT solutions (ERP), economically viable platforms (Cloud & Hybrid Cloud), emerging technologies (AI), systems of differentiation (foreign market trading systems), etc.  This means that you may need a specialist with an ERP selection framework to complete an assessment of an enterprise-based and integrated software solution.  Sometimes we need a Solution Architect to deliver a System Evolution Plan, or an integration expert to develop a System Integration Plan.  And sometimes, we engage a business process re-engineering expert to develop a future-state Process Design and Benefits Realization understanding to support an organization’s future vision.  And let’s not forget that companies acquire other companies, and even merge to overtake major competitors.  In this case, you need an architect who has a Merger & Acquisition framework to help organizations consolidate IT and business assets in support of the merger or acquisition.  The need for various “purist” and “non-purist” architecture frameworks depends on an organization’s industry, size, growth, maturity, current situation, and future aspirations, not to mention the capabilities of the organization and risk tolerance of its management team.  These frameworks incorporate various methodologies, guidelines, models, templates, and a diverse set of other artefacts. 

IT Architects provides a diverse and comprehensive set of ITA Architecture Frameworks, which provided architecture best practices, industry reference models, methods, techniques, templates and other artefacts.  These frameworks are categorized as either foundational or delivery.  The foundational frameworks guide your organization to develop various architecture foundations: data, process, application, technology, and others.  On the other hand, delivery frameworks are project/program-focused to guide delivery of business system solutions, emerging technologies, IT infrastructure, etc.  The various foundational and delivery frameworks are outlined below:

Architecture Foundational Frameworks

IT ArchitectsTM Enterprise Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM Data Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM Process Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM Application Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM System Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM Technical Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM Precedence Architecture
IT ArchitectsTM Process Redesign (also known as Business Process Re-engineering)
IT ArchitectsTM Service-Oriented Architecture

Architecture Delivery Frameworks

IT ArchitectsTM Project Management (based on the Hang Project Management Office Framework)
IT ArchitectsTM System Delivery Lifecycle
IT ArchitectsTM System Evolution Plan
IT ArchitectsTM System Integration Plan
IT ArchitectsTM Package Selection
IT ArchitectsTM Benefits Attainment (also known as Benefits Realization)
IT ArchitectsTM Mergers & Acquisitions

All these architecture foundational and delivery layers come together in alignment to form an organization’s overall enterprise architecture foundation.  IT Architects can also customize and package these IT architecture frameworks to support your IT solution, domain, or enterprise architecture needs.  It is our mission to consider all of your IT architecture requirements, and provide the foundational and delivery architecture frameworks to deliver an IT architecture based on your corporate IT mandate (by leveraging existing IT roadmaps, architecture standards, and existing information technology landscape).  IT Architects has been successful in transforming existing IT architectures to accommodate new ERPs, emerging technologies (cloud, mobility, AI, etc), and re-engineered