Enterprise architecture for small and medium-sized enterprises

Enterprise architecture (EA) is used as a holistic approach to keep things aligned in a company. Some emphasize the use of EA to align IT with the business, others see it broader and use it to also keep the processes aligned with the strategy. Although a lot of research is being done on EA, still hardly anything is known about its use in the context of a small and medium sized enterprise (SME). Because of some specific characteristics of SMEs, it is interesting to look how EA can be applied in a SME. In this PhD, we present an approach for EA for SMEs, which combines four dimensions to get a holistic overview, while keeping things aligned. The approach is developed with special attention towards the characteristics of SMEs. Case studies are used to refine the metamodel and develop an adequate method, while tool support is being developed to enable the validation rounds

Enterprise architecture for small and medium-sized enterprises : CHOOSE

Enterprise architecture (EA) is a coherent whole of principles, methods, and models that are used in the design and realization of an enterprise’s organizational structure, business processes, information systems, and IT infrastructure. EA is used as a holistic approach to keep things aligned in a company. Some emphasize the use of EA to align IT with the business, others see it broader and use it to also keep the processes aligned with the strategy. Recent research indicates the need for EA in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), important drivers of the economy, as they struggle with problems related to a lack of structure and overview of their business. However, existing EA frameworks are perceived as too complex and, to date, none of the EA approaches are sufficiently adapted to the SME context. Therefore, in this PhD, we present the CHOOSE approach for EA for SMEs. The approach consists of four artifacts: a metamodel, a method, software tool support, and a visualization. The approach is kept simple so that it may be applied in an SME context and is based on the essential dimensions of EA frameworks. Five steps were taken: first, the problem of EA in SMEs was extensively analyzed. Next, the CHOOSE metamodel was developed during action research in SMEs. Then, action research in six companies was used to develop an adequate method (consisting of guidelines, a roadmap, and stop criteria) and to further refine this CHOOSE metamodel, while different types of software tools (PC, iPad, Android, ...) were developed to enable the evaluation rounds. Finally, a proper visualization was established

Enterprise architecture for small and medium sized enterprises

Enterprise architecture (EA) is used as a holistic approach to keep things aligned in a company. Some emphasize the use of EA to align IT with the business, others see it broader and use it to also keep the processes aligned with the strategy. EA has gained importance in larger companies. Although a lot of research is being done on EA, still hardly anything is known about its use in the context of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). Although EA can offer a lot of benefits to SMEs, still hardly any SME uses EA. In this paper, the authors analyze both SMEs and EA techniques and investigate the adoption of EA in SMEs. At the end of the chapter, some guidelines for EA technique developers are proposed

Integrating the semantics of events, processes and tasks across requirements engineering layers

Today, software should be more flexible, adaptable and more cost effective than ever before. There are indications that event-based architectures improve the flexibility, adaptability and cost effectiveness of software. Events are crucial concepts in event-based architectures, however, the concept of event has different interpretations in modeling techniques, which makes it difficult to integrate the use of different techniques during early and late requirements engineering. This paper outlines a PhD intended to develop an event-based requirements engineering methodology which supports the specification, development and verification of event-based systems. More specifically, this PhD strives to further develop the concept of event in requirements engineering and provide it with a formally defined semantics. The event concept is positioned with respect to existing concepts for modeling dynamic aspects of a system. A major goal is to keep the complexity of the modeling method at an acceptable level and enable a smooth transition of event-based architectures from requirements to implementation level. Finally, by performing an ontological analysis, using the BWW ontology and UFO, a set of orthogonal dimensions of the concept of event could be found

EASE is de architect voor het MKB

Midden- en kleinbedrijven nemen vaak niet de tijd om strategisch na te denken over de planning en richting van hun onderneming. EASE is een softwaretool die begeleiding en ondersteuning biedt: zo wijst enterprisearchitectuur ook in het MKB de weg naar succes

De zoektocht naar know-how, know-why, know-what en know-who: architectuur voor kleinere bedrijven in vier dimensies

In de academische wereld en in de praktijk is er een groeiende interesse in architectuur en business-IT alignment. Men richt zich vooral op grotere bedrijven, terwijl kleinere organisaties, zoals kleine en middelgrote ondernemingen (kmo’s) in België en het midden- en kleinbedrijf (mkb) in Nederland1, vaak vergeten worden. Aangezien deze kleinere ondernemingen belangrijke pijlers van de economie zijn, is het interessant te kijken hoe architectuur hen kan helpen en in welke mate bestaande methoden aangepast moeten worden om te werken binnen deze context. De auteur stelt een aangepaste methode voor waarmee kmo’s hun businessarchitectuur in kaart kunnen brengen

The quest for know-how, know-why, know-what and know-who: using KAOS for enterprise modelling

While the field of information systems engineering is largely focussed on developing methods for complex problems and larger enterprises, less is done to specifically address the needs of smaller organizations like small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), although they are important drivers of economy. These needs include a better understanding of the processes (know- how), why things are done (know-why), what concepts are used (know-what) and who is responsible (know-who). In this paper, the KAOS approach is evaluated as not only useful for developing software projects, but with the potential to be used for developing a business architecture or enterprise model. An example of KAOS is given, by way of illustration, and KAOS was applied in a case study by an SME’s CEO, which resulted in a set of questions for further research

Integrating the semantics of events, processes and tasks across requirements engineering layers

Today, software should be more flexible, adaptable and more cost effective than ever before. There are indications that event-based architectures improve the flexibility, adaptability and cost effectiveness of software. Events are crucial concepts in event-based architectures, however, the concept of event has different interpretations in modeling techniques, which makes it difficult to integrate the use of different techniques during early and late requirements engineering. This paper outlines a PhD intended to develop an event-based requirements engineering methodology which supports the specification, development and verification of event-based systems. More specifically, this PhD strives to further develop the concept of event in requirements engineering and provide it with a formally defined semantics. The event concept is positioned with respect to existing concepts for modeling dynamic aspects of a system. A major goal is to keep the complexity of the modeling method at an acceptable level and enable a smooth transition of event-based architectures from requirements to implementation level. Finally, by performing an ontological analysis, using the BWW ontology and UFO, a set of orthogonal dimensions of the concept of event could be found

Enterprise architecture software tool support for small and medium-sized enterprises: EASE

In the current information society increased attention is being paid to enterprise architecture (EA) and accompanying techniques, models and frameworks. CHOOSE is an EA approach focused on and adapted to the characteristics and needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Though these techniques could offer significant benefits to SMEs, hardly any SME uses EA. The application and implementation of EA in general and the CHOOSE approach in particular, has proven to be a complex and challenging task. This paper describes the research-in-progress of the development of a software tool called EASE in support of the CHOOSE approach in order to maximize this disappointing rate of adoption. Furthermore, the software tool should guide the enterprise architect throughout the entire EA process and facilitate the implementation, management and maintenance of the resulting EA. A brief overview is given of the main features illustrating the added value of this research-in-progress. Finally, validation is achieved by means of multiple case studies