In a long but good thread at the-enterprise-architecture-network Google group, Cliff makes an important point not often seen in EA discussion, that of the Architect’s responsibility to understand the interrelation between the business’ cash flow and the enterprise’s data flow.

Post in complete context here:
http://tinyurl.com/8qp4t4

Hi Biju, You are right that most EA frameworks are IT centric. That is a great failing.

It is interesting that if you talk to a typical business architect (typically trained in the IT camp), and ask for a model of the architecture of the business, they will show you a process flow diagram, showing the DATA flows.

But if you talk to a business person and ask for a model of the business, they will show you a spreadsheet that captures the CASH flows.

These are completely different.

This is the great disconnect between IT and business. And I claim that an EA should be able to explain each model, and inter-relate them.

– Cliff

On Dec 23, 9:58 am, “Biju Abraham” <abraham.b…@gmail.com> wrote:
> I agree that EA should not be IT centric..however if you look at the
> frameworks itself, they seem to be derived from technical level. eg.
> TOGAF… TOGAF is very descriptive at technology/information architecture
> level and not so at the higher levels.
>

…