EA software can bring order to the inner workings of your enterprise's sprawling technical operations. Here's the benefit of mapping and cataloging -- and a few caveats about where the real magic lies.
Enterprise architecture aims to bring order to the vast realm of enterprise IT and its burgeoning collection of machines and software, a cornucopia unimaginable just a few decades ago. Desktop, tablet, phone—one screen at a glance. And that’s not including screenless devices like sensors, audio devices that respond to “Alexa,” and everything else in the so-called Internet of Things.
Alas, digital abundance isn't always a gift. After all, with all this comes responsibility. The machines, algorithms, software upgrades, and Colorado farms seem to multiply and need someone to watch over and care for them.
At its core, an enterprise architecture (EA) tool maintains a master list of assets in the form of a database table that catalogs equipment. It then adds a bunch of features to display this information in an easy-to-use way. The magic comes from teams who deploy software, populate it with data, and then use it to make smarter decisions.
Is all this tabulating, curating, and tracking worth it? Is the fuss worth the trouble? Here are six reasons why your organization should invest in an enterprise architecture solution—and some things to keep in mind when relying on EA tools.
good order
Anything is better than a vast network of computers running unknown software written by untracked workers who may or may not work for the company anymore. A list written on paper will be a start. A spreadsheet would be better. Enterprise architecture tools go way beyond the list. They add order to the world, providing a wealth of information about the vast array of bits collected through your enterprise's inexhaustible hardware.
However, it's important to remember that tools don't provide order. People do it. Enterprise architecture tools simply provide the means to establish order. Imagine, for example, a note saying not to shut down the server without talking to the customer acquisition team. What if the team is dispersed before 3 reorganizations and no one updates the note?
Software developers often find that documentation can cause problems when it deviates from the code. Suddenly, people are assuming one thing and the code is doing another. Enterprise architecture tools are still the solution, but they're not magic. They commit to maintaining the data. They are simply the means by which your team brings order. They will not bring order by themselves.
Enterprise architecture breaks down silos
Organizations can suffer from isolation as variance increases. One team chooses technology A, while the other chooses technology B. Installing enterprise architecture software won't resolve these deep differences, but it will make them easier to spot. The process of cataloging enterprise assets in an enterprise architecture tool reveals many distinctions, which is the first step in establishing some kind of uniformity. A central database is a catalyst for change.
Of course, just because an EA tool can find inconsistencies doesn't mean they should all be resolved. We might bluntly condemn the idiots who cobble together collections of packages that barely communicate, but these differences usually provide a little bit of security and resiliency. Monocultures are more vulnerable and more susceptible to disaster. A problem affecting one corner will affect all corners. That's not to say the mental cacophony of discordant software collections is pleasant or desirable. It's just that it has some advantages.
Indicator identification problem
The business school lesson is clear: you can't manage what you can't measure. EA software brings a range of tools for measuring how the digital realm is functioning. Now there is a way to compare teams, divisions and divisions with each other. EA can spot laggy servers, overloaded databases and overloaded networks.
But keep in mind that metrics introduce noise. The data is there. It can be aggregated, cleaned and displayed on a slick dashboard. But just because those bits are available doesn't mean they bring any real insight. These tools provide a wealth of information about business assets, but require expertise to understand what the numbers mean.
Automation saves time
Many EA tools pride themselves on their ability to connect to computer networks and collect large amounts of information automatically. We've reached a level of development where there's quite a bit of telemetry available through APIs and debugging tools. It all boils down to a useful interface so we can see what's going on.
Of course, automation is rarely foolproof. The plot of Michael Crichton's novel Jurassic Park depends on a computer program failing to make an accurate census of dinosaurs on the island. It's only programmed to track dinosaurs it knows, so it ignores the fact that dinosaurs are breeding. This blindness is also the danger of the EA system. They can only follow the computer they are integrated into.
A single source of truth is critical
Spending too much time searching for the right information. An enterprise architecture tool acts as a time-saving single source of information. Building the infrastructure can be expensive, but once it's running, it's easy to find the truth.
At the same time, it's important to know that, despite EA Software's promise to provide a single source of truth, there is rarely a single source of truth. Even if they did, they could be wrong, and there's no way of knowing. With only one opinion, there is no consensus and no opportunity for analysis.
Still, a flashlight, no matter how faint, is better than fumbling around in the dark. Instead of dwelling on how software doesn't perfectly map your business, let those hesitations go and move on to the daunting task of cataloging and tracking the cornucopia of data processing your business delivers.
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