In the context in which effective management and exploitation of information through IT is indispensable to achieve competitive advantage, the architecture provide a strategic tool for the evolution of the IT systems in response to the constantly changing needs of the business environment. This presentation focus on the main processes and roles of an effective architecture capability within an organisation. Please feel free to add comments to it.

1. Architecture Capability
How to establish an effective architecture capability
Adrian Grigoras,
February 22, 2015

2. Content
1. Introduction
2. Team structure
3. Team interactions
4. Architecture development method
5. Architecture repository
6. Architecture governance
7. Annex - RACI Matrix

3. Introduction
In the context in which effective management and exploitation of information through IT is indispensable to achieve
competitive advantage, the architecture provide a strategic tool for the evolution of the IT systems in response to the
constantly changing needs of the business environment.
A good architecture practice will bring important benefits to the company:
➢ more efficient business operation (lower level of CAPEX and OPEX, agile organisation, improved productivity)
➢ better Return of Investments (reduced business & IT complexity, lower level of customisations)
➢ more efficient IT operation (reusability of software assets, increased interoperability & portability, better
security)
Architecture capability of a company should concentrate on the following areas:
➢ structure the team
➢ develop consistent solutions
➢ store architecture assets into a comprehensive repository
➢ establish architecture check points during the life cycle of the project

4. Team structure
Business language Technical language
Software architect
Technical engineer
Business analyst
Development manager
Client
Solution architect
Architecture
team

5. Team interactions
Solution architect
- Define the solution according to
customer’s needs
- Share the industry best practices
and offer guidance to the
customer
- Accountable for the end-to-end
solution
- Responsible for non-functional
aspects of the solution
Business analyst
- Assist customer in functional
requirement definition
- Document customer needs and
processes
Software architect
- Detail the data and application
architecture
- Translate the architecture
requirements to the development
team
Technical engineer
- Detail the network and hardware
infrastructure architecture
- Finalize the infrastructure sizing
and capacity

6. Architecture development method
IT projects become more and more complex
due to unprecedented speed of evolution in the
IT industry and innovative solutions which are
released each day.
To mitigate projects’ delivery risks, a consistent
architecture development process should be
included in company’s policies. This policy will
bring additional benefits:
➢ deliver a better time to market
➢ reduce complexity of solutions
➢ increase reusability of IT assets
It should be based on open standards and best
practices, starting from TOGAF ADM, and it will
be tailored on the organisation culture and
business objectives.
Architecture
vision
Business
architecture
Information
systems
architecture
Technology
architecture
Solutions
Implementation

7. Architecture repository
To be efficient and consistent with the company’s policies
the architecture team has to maintain an architecture
repository. Leveraging this repository will help with:
➢ standardization of projects
➢ speed up integration of new members of the team
➢ better knowledge transfer
The architecture repository should contain:
➢ architecture principles & patterns
➢ architecture landscape (baseline & target)
➢ architecture metamodel
➢ standards base
➢ reference library

8. Architecture governance
Each proposed solution should be validated in accordance with architecture principles and spirit as well as with the
business objectives.
A formal process should be established and each solution will need to pass predefined check points during its life cycle.
Architecture vision
G
A
T
E
Architecture
definition
G
A
T
E
Solutions Implementation
Architecture
approval
Solution
approval

9. Annex - RACI Matrix
Architecture
vision
Business
architecture
Information
Systems
architecture
Technical
architecture
Solutions Implementation
Architecture
change
management
Solution architect AR A A A A I AR
Business analyst C R C C C I C
Software architect C C R C C I C
Technical engineer C C C R C I C
Development
manager
I I I I R R C
I – Informed
A – Accountable
C – Consulted
R – Responsible

10. Thank you!