Model-Supported Alignment of Information Systems Architecture

Abstract

The chapter presents an alignment framework and an associated representation framework for information systems (IS) architecture management. The alignment framework supports identification of high-level longer-term principles for evolution of IS architectures. The fundamental idea of the alignment framework is to generate alternative future IS architectures by grouping IS-architecture phenomena into IS-architecture areas in different ways. The representation framework supports the creation of IS-architecture models that can support IS-architecture alignment and other IS-architecture management tasks. In addition, the representation framework is a conceptual model for thinking about IS-architectures. Together, the alignment and representation frameworks constitute an early theory of IS architectures and IS-architecture work. They are part of a comprehensive methodology that results from several years of case and theory studies, tool developments, industrial projects and consulting.