A Systemic View on Enterprise Architecture Management

Multiple approaches for Enterprise Architecture (EA) management are discussed in literature, many of them differing regarding the understanding of the EA as well as of the performed management activities. Applying a cybernetic point of view, the differences between these approaches can be mitigated, a more embracing perspective can be established, and fields for future research that lack support in current EA management approaches can be identified. In this work, the authors apply the Viable System Model (VSM) as reference for elaborating an overarching conceptualization of the EA management function. In comparison to the VSM reference, they discover that system five of the VSM—the identity system—is underrepresented in prevalent EA management approaches. Using a building block-based approach that makes reuse of existing best practices for EA management, the authors outline a development method that addresses the challenge of identity of an EA management function by enabling an organization-specific design thereof. The development method can be used to govern the EA management function by providing means and techniques to configure and adapt, that is, to design and to re-design an EA management function tailored to the specific situation of an organization.