I’m seeing many signs of an evolving role and recognition for enterprise architecture.  This is changing how we ourselves see the practice of EA.

For example, one of the more frequent inquiries I get from EA leaders is around customer experience and the customer lifecycle – where our clients want to know how EA should help translate business customer experience goals into architecture.  Our inquiries around mobile are less around the technology and more around shaping an enterprise digital strategy.  The questions we get around Big Data have shifted from technology towards how gain better insights on a company’s markets.  

‘Engagement’ is the underlying theme of this evolution.  Companies need to build Systems of Engagement – and EAs are at the front-lines of decisions.  But also, EAs are stepping  up their engagement with their business leaders to provide the value their busness needs. 

If you also see this evolution, and are successfully addressing engagement of either form in your EA program, I’d like to invite you to submit your story for the 2014 Enterprise Architecture Award, sponsored by Forrester Research, InfoWorld and Penn State University’s Center for Enterprise Architecture.

As with previous years, we are recognizing leading EA programs, not a specific project.  We’d like to hear from programs that:

  • Have re-shaped how their business plans and governs business technology strategy
  • Have  helped their organization move from ‘mobile as a project’ to ‘mobile as an enterprise strategy’
  • Have put together, and gained business sponsorship for Systems of Engagement as a platform for business success
  • Have implemented innovative techniques for engaging with their business – from design-thinking, value stream analysis, and CX ecosystem mapping, to embedding EA in business areas.

This will be the fifth year for the Enterprise Architecture Awards program.  Past winners have ranged from global banks to government ministries, from American Express to USAA, and from Hong Kong to Moscow by way of Minneapolis Minnesota.  These organizations have become a rich source of best practices, and a demonstration of what a high performance EA program is capable of.  As with past years, submissions will be judged by your peers; heads of successful EA programs including previous winners. 

Has your EA program demonstrated success in Engagement?  Then share it with us!