Enterprise Architecture: Engaging and Empowering People while Creating Opportunity for Change Jack Jones, Acting Chief Information Officer, National Institutes of Health

Helen Schmitz, Acting Chief IT Architect, National Institutes of Health

Masako Sho, Sr. Manager, Sapient Government Services

● Communicating EA to the enterprise.● So that people can take full advantage of EA.● Such that EA can be relevant.● Such that the organizations IT aligns with its goals.

My own $.02● It's difficult to communicate 'EA' to the

organization.

Agenda● Vignettes

● My 1 experience with EA.● An EA showdown

● What I found while browsing the internet...● Which led me to my article● What the article is about.

My 1 experience with EA.● Be the wholesaler of data, not the retailer.

– Anonymous enterprise architect.

Zachman vs kundra

Two IT gurus face off ...● http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/total-cio/two-it-gurus-face-off-on-value-of-enterprise-architecture-frameworks/

● Kundra: CIO of the US Govt, 2009 - 2011● Zachman (framework)● Kundra made a blistering case against enterprise architecture

Who won? I have an opinion

How I found my article...

The article...● NIH takes it's EA very seriously.● Not just documentation, but an actionable

architecture.● Aims to be highly usable and practical. ● Article implies that general article staff are

aware of EA.

NIH EA acknowledges..● Basic lack of understanding of their users.

● And by implication, vice versa● Scientific behavioral study.

● Figure, how users operate – their motivations, decision making habits.

● To arrive at a better behavioral methodology.

3 types of users.● Trend Finders

● You know what, I kind of know what EA recommends for this sort of a project, but hey, I might follow their lead in the future.

● Fit seekers.● More willing to engage EA. Actively seeking out EA

methodologies. Interested in organizational consistency (more EA friendly).

● Fixer-Doers.● Motiviated to get into the nuts and bolts of systems

and actually do work. Always seek out others of the same nature. Always looking for peer opinions/experience.

No matter what the user type.● For effective engagement.

● There has to be some baseline knowledge of NIH EA – for all user types (thus the excellent website)

●

Actionable items from opportunity map.

- The program planning office will incorporate EA teaching and awareness components.

- NIH website updates for better dissemination of EA from principles to details.

-Lecture Series, and Consistent EA messaging.

Results..

Who won?● Zachman

● Why?● Because it's a matter of communication!!

● Plus this kundra guy seems a little lightweight.– e.g. Holds important position, and making sweeping

statements.