Do the Sum of the Parts

Equal the Whole?

Michael H. Gonzalez

Dir. Business Architecture

Whataburger, LLC

December 6, 2012

iasa world summit 2012

Disclaimer

Any views or opinions expressed in this presentation

are those of the presenter and do not necessarily

represent the views and opinions of Whataburger,

LLC., its ownership, management or its employees.

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Agenda

• Context

• In My Experience

• Five Rules of Life

• Possible Results

• Q&A

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A Little Bit of “Context” • Enterprise Architecture

lives in /owned by I.T.?

• Have all three -“Business, Information, and Technology”

architecture?

• Functional, integrated, aligned and producing expected outcomes?

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For Context…My Background

• IT and Process Engineering

• EA through “partnership”

• Business Architecture Practice

• EA Process Owner

• Assessed EA as a Consultant

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What was consistent? • Smart People, Same Intent

• Similar References

• Similar Techniques

• Various Results

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… Why?

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A lot of valid answers….

Approach

Support Organization

Approach

Support Organization

In my experience…..

• Frameworks are guideposts

• Focus on fundamentals

• Governance is key

• “Delivery Matters”

• Cultural alignment

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Oh ya, CEO support doesn’t hurt!

For Starters… Define EA

Rule of Life #1: Take a stance

EA = EBA + EIA + ETA

Make it holistic, then move on!

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But…. If your practice is matrixed, how do

you

• apply a holistic approach,

• develop aligned deliverables, or

• achieve synergy to grow the

practice?

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“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness

surrounding it”

- Albert Einstein

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Peo

ple

Does a Meta Model help?

So, where do you end your mapping

before you’re “in the dark”? 12

Focus on what matters…

Rule of Life #2: Pareto’s Principle

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80% of the business

can be mapped by

relating the 20%

that matters….

Remember, Delivery Matters!

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“I never failed

once, it just

happened to be a

2000-step process”

- Thomas A. Edison

What about the process?

Does your EA process produce results or is it a source of pain... “failure by 2000 steps”?

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Bu

sin

ess

In

form

atio

n

Tec

hn

olo

gy

Output

Output

Output Review Board

Review Board

Review Board

Keep it simple…..

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Rule of Life #3: Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

Keys are process ownership,

relevance and timeliness

Does organization matter?

Short answer, of course it does,

but what do you do about it? 17

EA Lead

Bus. Info. Tech.

Leader

Bus.

Leader

Info.

Leader

Tech.

Enterprise Architecture

VS.

Matrix Teams - Potential Challenges

• March to different beat

• “Wag-the-Dog”

• Misaligned on delivery

• No clear, one “belly button”

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Do unto others…..

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Rule of Life #4: Golden Rule

But you have to lead!

Requires technical and soft skills.

In terms of priority… Focus on the “personal” level first,

and the “professional” level second.

Benefits:

• establishes trust and

• enables feedback – both directions.

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What about Culture…?

Culture eats “change” for breakfast!

Enough said. 21

Do what makes sense…

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Rule of Life #5: Be Pragmatic

Balance between governance

and execution.

But governance also has to be governed….

Some possible techniques:

• Build incremental success into practice

• Keep the documentation lighthearted, especially in the beginning

• Avoid explaining why the practice works the way it does. Instead, look for opportunities to improve.

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Summary

#1 Take a Stance

#2 Pareto’s Principle

#3 Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

#4 Golden Rule

#5 Be Pragmatic

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Possible Results

• Alignment on “how” and “what” to do

• Respect for each other’s craft and ability

• Ability to mature “the practice” together

• Above all else, ability to execute practically and holistically

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Questions

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Contact Information

Michael H. Gonzalez

mc5gonzalez@sbcglobal.net

(210) 254-0005

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