After completing the detailed business modeling in Phase B – Business Architecture, the ADM cycle continues with Phase C – Information Systems Architecture. This is a core stage where Enterprise Architects begin to translate business requirements into specific technology solutions for both Data and Applications.
The main objective of Phase C is to develop a target information systems architecture, ensuring that application and data systems will effectively and directly support the business objectives that have been identified.
Key Inputs of Phase C
To begin Phase C, the most important outputs from Phase B are required:
- Baseline & Target Business Architectures: The detailed descriptions of both states.
- Gap Analysis Report: The document that identifies the gaps found at the business level.
- Requirements Report: A refined list of business requirements that serves as the basis for designing the IT architecture.
- Architecture Vision Statement: The overall guiding document for the project.
Core Activities and Steps of Phase C
Phase C is divided into two main parts, which are often performed in parallel and iteratively: Data Architecture and Application Architecture.
1. Developing a Data Architecture
This activity focuses on modeling the organization’s data structure.
- Analyze Baseline Data: Document existing data assets, including their logical and physical models, data stores, and data management systems.
- Design a Target Data Architecture: Based on the business requirements, design the desired future data structure. This includes:
- Entity-Relationship Models (ERDs): Modeling the key data entities and their relationships.
- Data Definitions: Defining data types, sources, and ownership.
- Data Governance Strategy: Defining policies and standards for managing data (quality, security, etc.).
2. Developing an Application Architecture
This activity focuses on designing the application systems.
- Analyze Baseline Applications: Inventory existing applications, their functions, and their interrelationships.
- Design a Target Application Architecture: Develop a detailed blueprint for future applications. This includes:
- Functional Decomposition: Breaking down business requirements into application functions.
- Application Modeling: Designing new applications and defining how they will interact with each other.
- Interface Design: Defining the interfaces between applications to ensure they can exchange data efficiently.
Key Outputs of Phase C
The successful completion of Phase C produces key outputs that provide the detailed technical blueprint for the information systems.
- Target Data Architecture: A detailed description of the desired data structure and management strategy.
- Target Application Architecture: A detailed blueprint of the applications and their interactions.
- Updated Gap Analysis Report: An updated gap analysis from Phase B, this time at the information systems level.
- Architecture Requirements Report: A detailed list of Data and Application requirements, which will serve as the basis for Phase D.
Conclusion
Phase C – Information Systems Architecture is a crucial stage where business requirements are translated into technology blueprints. By developing a clear data and application architecture, architects can ensure that IT solutions are not only technically sound but also directly support the organization’s strategic objectives.
In the next article, we will move on to Phase D – Technology Architecture, where we will design the technical infrastructure (hardware, software, networking) to support the data and application solutions designed in Phase C.
