Agile Enterprise Architecture: The role of the architect

Are you overrunning your architectural runway? Many companies struggle with their ability to retain their architectural integrity when they transition to agile methods. Emergent Architecture (the other EA) can lead to cowboy coding and ad-hoc design decisions that emerge into a poor overall architecture.

Enterprise Architecture (EA) has been a tried and true approach to address these architectural needs throughout the organization, yet this approach often leads to a heavy-handed, document-rich, control-oriented culture lacking ability to keep pace with today's dynamic business environment.

Attempting to integrate an agile process with an Enterprise Architecture approach can be like mixing oil and water - they just don't work together. This session evaluates alternatives in balancing Agility and EA and proposes an architectural approach to build an Agile Enterprise Architecture into your organization.

This session begins with an evaluation of the strengths of Enterprise Architecture and Agility and various approaches in the industry today that are attempting to balance the two. Enterprise Architecture (EA) means more than technology - it includes business architecture, information architecture, operational architecture, organizational architecture, technical architecture and infrastructure architecture.

There are many EA models available today including the Zachmann Framework, McGovern/Stevens Model, and the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) framework just to name a few. Each of these frameworks provides a valuable perspective on EA, but all of them depend on your organization to execute them effectively and require adjustments to increase their agility.

We will look specifically at the architect's role in an agile process to retain application integrity and enable organizational agility to meet the changing business needs.

About Pete Behrens

Pete Behrens is the Founder and CEO of the Agile Leadership Journey, dedicated to inspiring leaders, empowering teams and driving change to improve business performance. Through education and coaching, they equip leaders to shift mindset and culture so change becomes an asset rather than a liability.

For over three decades, Pete has been guiding organizational development and fostering a network of trusted professionals that do the same. Pete is also the creator and host of the Relearning Leadership podcast. Along with expert guides and his guests, Pete explores leadership challenges, discussing paths for new awareness and growth for leaders to improve their leadership in highly complex and rapidly changing environments.

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