Abstract
This chapter introduces the concept of using Enterprise Architecture and associated practices as a method for helping establish and align Green ICT initiatives within organizations as part of an overall ICT Strategy. The chapter introduces the reader to the use of architectural layers – Business, Information, System and Technical as a means of analyzing areas within the ICT environment where Green ICT implementations can have a positive impact. Enterprise Architecture as a function can assist in driving Green ICT initiatives because it is specifically focused as a practice in the long term planning, development and management of an organisation’s ICT environment. This provides the opportunity to embed Green ICT objectives in a way not necessarily possible with traditional business planning.
TopEnterprise Architecture Overview
Enterprise Architecture (EA) as a function assists with the progress towards a Green ICT environment within an organization (Eas, 2009). Before expanding on this statement, it is important to understand what Enterprise Architecture is and its overall purpose as a function within an organization.
Enterprise Architecture is “a means of ensuring that the ICT strategy of an organization is aligned to its business objectives, goals and vision”. Therefore, Enterprise Architecture is an important strategic element of the organization. An EA:
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Provides a mapping between strategic objectives and the ICT capabilities that an organization requires to deliver them.
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Details the Operating Model of an organization which highlights the “core” capabilities required in the environment.
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Provides a framework for detailing the architectural models - business, information, system and technology necessary to deliver the target state.
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Provides a governance framework to drive decision making related to the progress towards the end state architecture. This includes decisions related to priorities, standards and technology alignment amongst others.
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Provides a feedback mechanism constantly updating the current state as new initiatives are completed, new capabilities realized and environmental changes are made.
Figure 1, based on Ross et al. (2006) Foundation for Success, provides an overview of how these components interact to effect this evolution:
Figure 1. Enterprise Architecture Interaction Model (Curtis, 2009)
As is seen from Figure1, an EA program typically contains a number of streams:
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Business Strategic Objectives baseline capture.
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Current Technology baseline capture.
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Target State creation including the definition of the operating model to be supported.
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Opportunity analysis and identification.
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Technology and initiative governance review.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Green Computing: Green Computing is the way of using computers and related resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The term refers to sustainable computing.
Business Services: Business Services are the specific services which are offered by business to customers. Business Services is a very important layer and resides on top of Enterprise Architecture.
Technology Platforms: Technology Platform refers to the specific platforms on which technical architecture is laid out and is made to run. This type of platform mostly consists of mixture of hardware and software services.
Zachman Framework: The Zachman Framework is an Enterprise Architecture framework for enterprise architecture, which provides a formal and highly structured way of viewing and defining an enterprise. Zachman Framework is taxonomy for organizing architectural artifacts.
Enterprise Architecture (EA): A structure of integrating business processes with ICT supported, by providing a visualization enterprise solution of the relationships among the System, Process, People, and Data in an organization.