Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
Theme 1- EA theoretical concepts and
background
Assignment 1
1 Introduction and overview
Enterprise Architecture is still widely regarded as new academic discipline. As a result, it is quite
possible that you may have come across the term in your work environment but may not know
exactly what it is about.
In this theme of the module, we will spend some time becoming familiar with the meaning of
Enterprise Architecture as a term and a concept. Since there are no definitive textbooks on the topic,
we will engage with some exemplar references in the academic literature and beyond.
Your task is to find, read and annotate these references to prepare for an online MCQ test on the
theme of EA theory and background. What follows are more detailed instructions on how to
complete the first assignment of the year.
2 Assignment outcomes
The module specific outcomes addressed in this assignment are as follows:
•
•
•
Specific outcome 1: Discuss the meaning of the term Enterprise Architecture.
Specific outcome 2: Identify the main reasons for the existence of EA.
Specific outcome 3: Discuss the background and historical development of EA.
3 Assignment information
Unique code
Submission Date
%
629349
16 May 2022
30
4 Assessment preparation tasks
To facilitate your preparation of the assignment you are required to engage in the following set of
tasks:
•
•
•
Attend online discussion sessions
Read and prepare annotated bibliography
Submit annotated bibliography and MCQ result on myUnisa
1
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
5 Assignment reading list
The references for the assignment are drawn from several sources. The intention is to provide as
wide as possible description and overview of the theoretical constructs of Enterprise Architecture.
5.1 Internet sources
John Zachman is regarded by many researchers as the father of Enterprise Architecture, here is the
papers that established his prominence:
•
•
About the Zachman Framework - https://www.zachman.com/about-the-zachmanframework
The Framework for Enterprise Architecture: Background, Description and Utility by: John A.
Zachman - https://www.zachman.com/resource/ea-articles/327-the-framework-forenterprise-architecture-background-description-and-utility-by-john-a-zachman
5.2 Academic papers
The meaning of Enterprise Architecture has been under investigation since the inception of the
term. The following papers are of interest:
•
•
•
•
•
Kotusev, S., 1986. The history of enterprise architecture: An evidence-based review. Journal
of Enterprise Architecture–Volume, 12(1), p.29.
Lapalme, J., 2011. Three schools of thought on enterprise architecture. IT professional, 14(6),
pp.37-43.
Simon, D., Fischbach, K. and Schoder, D., 2013. An exploration of enterprise architecture
research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 32(1)
Mentz, J.C., Kotzé, P. and van der Merwe, A., 2014, September. Propositions that describe
the intended meaning of enterprise architecture. In Proceedings of the Southern African
Institute for Computer Scientist and Information Technologists Annual Conference 2014 on
SAICSIT 2014 Empowered by Technology (pp. 304-313).
Gampfer, F., Jürgens, A., Müller, M. and Buchkremer, R., 2018. Past, current, and future
trends in enterprise architecture—A view beyond the horizon. Computers in Industry, 100,
pp.70-84.
Please download these papers from the Unisa library.
2
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
5.3 Book chapters
Several interesting books has been written on the topic of Enterprise Architecture, you will find
these on two sources, the Unisa library and the SAFARI portal (also known and O’Reilly)
5.3.1 From UNISA library
Source
Chapters
Bente, S., Bombosch, U. and Langade, S., 2012. Collaborative enterprise 1 - Why Collaborative
architecture: enriching EA with lean, agile, and enterprise 2.0 practices. Enterprise Architecture?
Newnes.
2 - What Is Enterprise
Architecture?
Lankhorst, M., 2013. Enterprise Architecture at Work: Modelling,
Communication and Analysis (The Enterprise Engineering Series).
1 - Introduction to
Enterprise Architecture
2 - State of the Art
Proper, E., Waage, M., Cloo, J. and Steghuis, C., 2009. Enterprise
Architecture: Creating Value by Informed Governance (The Enterprise
Engineering Series).
2 - The Need for a New
Instrument
3 - Positioning Enterprise
Architecture
5.3.2 From SAFARI books
Source
Chapters
Sessions, R., 2008. Simple architectures for complex enterprises.
Microsoft Press.
1 - Enterprise
Architecture Today
By Ganesan Senthilvel, Ovais Mehboob Ahmed Khan, Habib Ahmed
Qureshi. 2017. Enterprise Application Architecture with .NET Core
1 - Enterprise
Architecture Concepts
Minoli, D., 2008. Enterprise architecture A to Z: frameworks, business
process modeling, SOA, and infrastructure technology. CRC press.
1 - Introduction:
Enterprise Architecture
and Technology Trends
5.4 Assignment instructions
To complete the assignment, you must follow these instructions:
•
•
•
Read all the EA papers in the reading list
Create an informative annotated bibliography of 5 sources, justify your decision of chosen
paper
Complete MCQ - questions drawn from reading list
3
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
5.4.1 MCQ questions
Kotusev arranges the historical development of EA in
three periods:
a
b
1
The earliest origins of the modern concept of EA can
be traced back to which methodology?
Business Systems
Planning, early
Enterprise Architecture,
and modern Enterprise
Architecture
BSP, EAP, and modern
Enterprise Architecture
c
Zachman framework,
TOGAF and BPM
d
Schools of Thought, Early
Enterprise Architecture
and Modern Enterprise
Architecture
a
b
2
c
Business Process
Management (BPM)
Architecture
Development Method
(ADM)
Business Systems
Planning (BSP)
Zachman Framework
d
The PRISM EA framework organizes an architectural
description as follows:
1.
a
four domains (inventory,
principles, models, and
standards) and four
types (organization, data,
application, and
infrastructure)
b
Four domains
(organization, data,
application, and
infrastructure) and Four
types (inventory,
3
4
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
principles, models, and
standards)
According to Kotusev the first formal description of
EA was as follows:
c
inventory, principles,
models, and standards
d
organization, data,
application, and
infrastructure
a
EA is the fundamental
organization of a system,
embodied in its
components, their
relationships to each
other and the
environment, and the
principles governing its
design and evolution
EA is an architecture that
defines and interrelates
data, hardware,
software, and
communications
resources, as well as the
supporting organization
required to maintain the
overall physical structure
required by the
architecture
EA is a discipline for
proactively and
holistically leading
enterprise responses to
disruptive forces by
identifying and analysing
the execution of change
toward desired business
vision and outcomes
b
4
c
5
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
d
EA is the organizing logic
for crucial business
processes and its
capabilities reflecting the
integration and
standardization
requirements of the
firm’s operating mode
Lapalme proposed a taxonomy called 3 schools of
a
thought to create shared meaning for EA researchers
and practitioners. These schools are as follows:
enterprise architecting,
enterprise migration, and
enterprise ecological
adaptation
Business-IT alignment,
enterprise integrating,
and enterprise ecological
adaptation
enterprise IT
architecting, sociotechnical architecting,
and enterprise ecological
adaptation
enterprise IT
architecting, enterprise
integrating, and
enterprise ecological
adaptation
Apply a holist (systemic)
stance, don’t question
business strategies and
objectives, Manage the
environment, and jointly
design all organizational
dimensions
Apply a reductionist
(mechanistic) stance,
don’t question business
strategies, Design
organizational
dimensions
independently, and don’t
worry about non-IT
dimensions; they’re not
your concerns
Apply a holist (systemic)
stance, System-inenvironment
coevolution,
Environment can be
changed and jointly
design all organizational
dimensions
b
c
5
d
The following Principles and assumptions are
associated with the Enterprise Integrating School of
Thought:
a
b
6
c
6
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
d
The following skills are associated with the
Enterprise Ecological adaptation School of Thought:
a
b
7
c
d
The following insights are associated with the
Enterprise Integrating School of Thought:
a
b
8
c
d
7
Apply a holist (systemic)
stance, System-inenvironment
coevolution, Design
organizational
dimensions
independently, and don’t
worry about non-IT
dimensions; they’re not
your concerns
Facilitate small-group
collaboration, and Apply
systems thinking
Foster dialogue, apply
system and system-inenvironment thinking,
and facilitate largergroup collaboration
Have technical
competence and
engineering knowledge
Facilitate small-group
collaboration,
engineering knowledge,
and Apply systems
thinking
Permits the design of
robust and complex
technological solutions,
Fosters the creation of
high-quality models and
planning scenarios
Permits the design of
comprehensive
solutions, Fosters the
creation of high-quality
models and planning
scenarios
Permits the design of
comprehensive
solutions, enables
significant organizational
efficiency by eliminating
unnecessary
contradictions and
paradoxes
Enables significant
organizational efficiency
by eliminating
unnecessary
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
9
Due Date: 16 May 2022
Lapalme justifies the exclusion of the Zachman
Framework from any school of thought on the
following grounds:
Simon et al, describes the three major EA research
streams as follows:
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
a
b
c
d
a
b
10
c
d
Simon et all outlines the dimensions of EA research
as follows:
a
b
c
11
d
Mentz et all, identifies the problem with defining EA
as a lack of unified theoretical grounding. The
following three points can bring focus and
awareness to this problem:
12
8
a
contradictions and
paradoxes, fosters
system-in-environment
coevolution and
enterprise coherency
it’s a taxonomy, not a
school of thought
It's outdated
It's too complicated to
work with
It's costly to implement
EA frameworks,
ArchiMate, and EA
Management
EA frameworks, Design
and Operations of EA
management, and EA
Conception and
Modeling
EA Layers, EA
methodology, and EA
Lifecycle Phases
EA frameworks, EA
methodology, and EA
Management
EA frameworks,
ArchiMate, and EA
Management
EA frameworks, EA
methodology, and EA
Management
EA layers, EA
methodology, EA
management tasks, and
EA lifecycle phases
EA frameworks, Design
and Operations of EA
management, and EA
Conception and
Modeling
No universal definition of
terms, the internal
meanings of existing
EAFs supports the
development of EA silos,
and the inherent
meaning of EA as a
representation of the
enterprise essentially
allows for the creation of
unique EAFs
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
b
c
d
Which of the following definition is the closest to the
EA definition of Architecture as put forth by the
ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011?
a
b
13
c
d
9
TOGAF provides a defacto EA definition,
ZACHMAN framework
has been in use for a long
time, and a universal
definition is not needed
to do EA
More than 1 EAF bring
diversity to the EA
domain, TOGAF's
adaptability is good for
EA work, and ZACHMAN
framework provides
sufficient definition for
theoretical purposes
EA does not need any
supportive theories, EA
deals with modeling not
theoretical matters, and
TOGAF is the de-facto EA
standard
EA is an architecture that
defines and interrelates
data, hardware,
software, and
communications
resources, as well as the
supporting organization
required to maintain the
overall physical structure
required by the
architecture
EA is a discipline for
proactively and
holistically leading
enterprise responses to
disruptive forces by
identifying and analysing
the execution of change
toward desired business
vision and outcomes
EA is the organizing logic
for crucial business
processes and its
capabilities reflecting the
integration and
standardization
requirements of the
firm’s operating model
The fundamental
organization of a system,
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
Gampfer et all, describes an extended scope for EA
work that focuses on the integration of architectural
disciplines and domains. Which disciplines and/or
domains are included in this scope?
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
a
b
14
c
d
Gampfer et al, outlines the following main
categories for EA research:
a
b
15
c
d
Bente et al, provides the following key
characteristics of architectural thinking:
a
b
16
c
d
Bente et al, claims that EA can be applied to various
scopes in addition to the enterprise IT landscape.
These are:
17
a
b
c
10
embodied in its
components, their
relationships to each
other and the
environment, and the
principles governing its
design and evolution
Business Process
Modelling and Business
Architecture
Information Systems (IS)
Architecture and
Information Technology
(IT) Architecture
Information Technology
(IT) architecture and
Data models
Business Architecture
and Systems Thinking
EA frameworks, Design
and Operations of EA
management, and EA
Conception and
Modeling
EA frameworks,
ArchiMate, and EA
Management
EA Understanding, EA
Modelling, and EA
Management
EA frameworks, Design
and Operations of EA
management, and EA
Conception and
Modeling
Critical thinking,
abstractions and
problem-solving skills
Modelling, Visualization
and Communication
Soft skills, Design, and
Strategic thinking
Modelling, Abstraction
and Design
Managing the business
architecture to maximise
profit
Managing acquisitions
and mergers
Managing People,
Process and Technology
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
d
Which of the following definitions most closely
describes Lankhorst et all's view on EA?
a
b
18
c
d
19
Lankhorst et al, claims that there is no universally
accepted language that covers all the modeling
domain in EA. Which of the following aspects are
named as problematic to any single modeling
language being accepted as a universal EA modeling
language?
11
a
Managing the business
operation and the IT
landscape of large and
midsize enterprises
EA is an architecture that
defines and interrelates
data, hardware,
software, and
communications
resources, as well as the
supporting organization
required to maintain the
overall physical structure
required by the
architecture
EA is the organizing logic
for crucial business
processes and its
capabilities reflecting the
integration and
standardization
requirements of the
firm’s operating model
coherent whole of
principles, methods, and
models that are used in
the design and
realisation of an
enterprise’s
organisational structure,
business processes,
information systems, and
infrastructure
EA is a discipline for
proactively and
holistically leading
enterprise responses to
disruptive forces by
identifying and analysing
the execution of change
toward desired business
vision and outcomes
Most modelling
languages miss the
overall architectural
vision and are confined
to either the business or
the application and
technology subdomains
Unique Assignment Number: 629349
Due Date: 16 May 2022
INF4883 Assignment 1 - 2022
b
c
d
Mentz et all, claims that EA is similar, in intent, to
the enterprise as a worldview is to the world. This
claim is supported by which of the following
propositions?
a
b
20
c
d
Modelling languages are
hard to understand by
business
Modelling languages are
too visual for practical
long-term use
Modeling languages
inhabits architectural
analysis
EA models are made
using the ArchiMate
language
EA is a description of the
structure of the systems
of an enterprise in terms
of components and their
relationships
Time is an essential
component of EA models
An As-is model captures
the future view of the
enterprise
5.5 Support materials
To facilitate your learning in this assignment the following reference guides will be of interest.
•
•
•
•
•
https://guides.library.cornell.edu/annotatedbibliography
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bib
liographies/index.html
https://guides.libraries.uc.edu/c.php?g=598564&p=4143747
https://www.bibliography.com/examples/annotated-bibliography-writing-guide-withexamples/
https://libguides.consortiumlibrary.org/c.php?g=488706&p=3342726
Also keep in mind that recordings of our weekly discussions on MS Teams are stored on the MS
Teams Module team.
12