serve actionable knowledge empower agile architects

Aug 8, 2007 - a|EA-DC Forum aeaassociation.org

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Serve Actionable KnowledgeEmpower Agile Architects

Tyson Brooks, BAE Systems

Haiping Luo, Government Printing Office

Association of Enterprise ArchitectsInternational Committee on Enterprise Architecture Standards


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Topics• Where is My Tool?!

– Knowledge challenges faced by architects

• Tool Assembling– The purpose and approach of the EA Knowledge Digest

(EAKD) project

• The Tool Cabinet– An overview of the EAKD system

• Using the Tool Cabinet– Use scenarios performed in the EAKD system

• Call for Tool Help– How can EAKD do better? Could you help?


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Where is My Tool ?!

a. Architecting tasks are knowledge-demanding and time-pressing.

b. Architectural problems are complex.

c. Good EA knowledge and practices exist in many enterprises, But when architects perform their work, they often can’t find suitable knowledge items and methods for ready use.

d. Have to research or create reasoning, processes, and methods in a hurry.

Common challenges faced by architects:


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What is the Problem ?

Why do architects reinvent the wheel while preaching others not to? It is not because we don't want to reuse existing knowledge, but that it is not easy to do so.

EA knowledge, similar to the architectural problems we have, is:• Scattered in many places;• Too much, too bulky to digest and use;• Not in ready forms for quick application;• Not related with actions/tasks we encounter.


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The Gap…Knowledge Items Tasks

Standards

Metrics

Principles

Analytics

Processes

Models Methods

Caveats

Lessonslearned

Monitor gaps

Simulate scenarios

Collaboratedevelopment

Harmonize approaches

Commit topmanagement

Minimize waste

Minimize risks

Pace transitions

Establishgovernance

Identify portfolioGuidance

CoordinateImplementations


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Tool Assembling

Collect and Organize EA knowledge items to enable architects to find suitable knowledge and apply best practices quickly and properly.

The purpose of the EA Knowledge Digest:


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Tool Assembling: the Approach

• Collect• Abstract• Organize• Associate to Actions• Serve


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The Tool CabinetThe EA Knowledge Digest System has two components:-The open site;-The repository.

EAKD Open Site

Public

EAKDRepository

Journal of EA subscribers

distills, categorizes, integrates, associates

populate knowledge items

serves knowledge in context

fill contents

serves contents

is part of


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The EAKD Open Site

The EAKD Open Site:

http://aeablogs.org/eakd/

Features:• Global, open access• Simple structure for easy navigation• Rich and growing contents• Real-world templates and documents

Who can access:

Open to public. Self-registered users can post.


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The EAKD RepositoryThe EAKD Repository (sampling site):

http://70.182.190.254:6464/ABTWSAC.EXE/ArchieAnonymous?<aEA-public>

Features:

• Knowledge item collection;

• Structured with attributes, relationships, and relationship notes;

• Dynamically served in a wide range of contexts, especially in EA management context;

• Linked to architecting activities, problems, and lifecycle; …


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Where is the “Actionable”?

EA Management Activity Context (example)

Knowledge Items: methods, principles, models, …

Architecting lifecycle

Document As-Is

Analyze As-Is

Principles

Methods

Caveats

Design Target

structured, organized, associated


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The EA Management Methodology: Activity Types and Relationships

• This is a basic approach to enable effective coordination.• This approach has four iterative activity types:

Documentproceeds to

Align

Evaluate

Nurture

proceeds to

If acceptable,proceeds to

periodicallyreturns to

If not acceptable,goes back to

– Document– Align– Evaluate– Nurture


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EA Management Methodology Matrix

Activity Type >> Document Align Evaluate Nurture

Method Group A1 A2 A3 A4

Engage M1 y y y y

Communicate M2 y y y y

Model M3 y

Record M4 y y y y

Relate M5 y y y

Analyze M6 y y y y

Design M7 y y

Plan M8 y y

Coordinate & Pace M9 y y

Govern M10 y y y

Monitor M11 y y y y

Measure M12 y y y y

Compare M13 y y y

EA Management Methodology Matrix

Activity Type >> Document Align Evaluate Nurture

Method Group A1 A2 A3 A4

Engage M1 y* y y y

Communicate M2 y y y y

•Each “y” indicates that the Activity Type (in column) uses this method group (in row) to perform the function (in row). The method group can be drilled down to a set of methods applicable for the task.

For example, the “y” for the cell of “Document & Engage” can be read as: “To Document EA information, it is necessary to engage stakeholders. The Engage method group will provide applicable methods to get stakeholders engaged.”


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Architecting Lifecycle

EA Management Core EA Drivers

EA PrinciplesEA Governance

EA Information BaseEA Intelligence Capacity

Document Existing ArchitectureStrategic Mgmt PerspectiveBusiness Mgmt PerspectiveResource Mgmt Perspective

Risk Mgmt PerspectiveElectronic Mgmt Perspective

Design & Ratify Target Architecture

EA DesignEA Policy

EA StandardsEA Processes

Implement EA PlansBuild new components

Align existing componentsMonitor changes

Analyze Existing ArchitectureEA Statistics

EA DiagnosesEA AnalysesEA Reports

EA Recommendations

Plan & Commit TransitionsEA Planning

EA Governance ProcessEA Review

EA Stakeholder Mgmt

Evaluate Implemented Changes

Output Quality AnalysesEA Performance Analyses

Continue Architecture Management

Project ClosureMaintain Architecture

Measure operation performanceIdentify future change needs.


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Architecting Lifecycle ManagementEnterprise Architecting Lifecycle Management Matrix

Architecting Lifecycle Phase -->

Documenting Existing Architecture

Analyzing Existing Architecture

Designing & Ratifying Target Architecture

Planning & Committing Transition Plans

Implementing Planned Changes

Evaluating ImplementedChanges

Continuing Architecture Management

Management Aspect ↓ Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6 Phase 7DescriptionPurposeEssential KnowledgePrinciplesTasksProcessesInputTechniques, Mechanisms, and ToolsOutputGovernanceRoles and ResponsibilitiesStakeholder Relationship MgmtQuality ManagementPerformance ManagementRisk ManagementRecord ManagementIssuesLessons Learned


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Using the Tool CabinetUse Scenarios and Demo:1. Finding a template for developing an EA baseline

assessment2. Finding EA knowledge items: principles,

standards, … 3. Finding methods to perform a task.4. Finding knowledge items to complete a phase in

the EA Management Lifecycle.


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Using the Tool Cabinet (cont.)1. Finding a template for developing an EA baseline

assessment

Step 1: Type Your Request


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Using the Tool Cabinet (cont.) 2. Displays Results

Location Within EAKD

Google Search Technology For Additional Information


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Using the Tool Cabinet2. Finding EA knowledge items: principles, standards, …


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Using the Tool Cabinet3. Finding a method to perform a task.

http://70.182.190.254:8080/cogweb/servlet/ReportingServlet?reportId=16



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Using the Tool Cabinet3. Finding a method to perform a task (details)


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Using the Tool Cabinet4. Finding knowledge items to complete a phase in the EA

Management Lifecycle http://70.182.190.254:8080/cogweb/servlet/ReportingServlet?reportId=14



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Call for Tool Help• How can EAKD achieve its goal better?• Could you help EAKD to identify, distill,

organize, and associate knowledge items with EA management actions?


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Summary• EA Knowledge Digest is up and running.• Purpose: collect EA knowledge items and serve knowledge

packages to architects in action.• Populating and structuring the Digest is an ongoing process.• Call for community participation to shape and fill the Digest

and to make it usable and useful. • Appreciations:

– Thanks to John Gotze for hosting the EAKD;– Thanks to Agilense, Inc., and Cogniscape, LLC for donating their EA repository

and modeling tools, EA WebModeler and CogniViz, to support the EAKD project.

• Contact Information– Tyson Brooks, EAKD Project Manager

([email protected])– Haiping Luo, Assistant Project Manager ([email protected])

Association of Enterprise ArchitectsInternational Committee on Enterprise Architecture Standards

serve actionable knowledge empower agile architects

Documents

knowledge challenges

ea knowledge items

good ea knowledge

existing knowledge

suitable knowledge items

eakd systemusing

eakd systemcall

tool assemblingcollect