Enterprise Architecture for Phoenix Logistics - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theEnterprise Architecture for Phoenix Logistics. Answer: Introduction: Phoenix Logistics is the global freight forwarding company which operates their business based on their head office in Melbourne. They also have branches in several countries of the world. In this recent time, the organisation wants to implement the process of Enterprise Architecture (EA) to improve the effectiveness of their operation. Being the member of the consulting team, it is important to provide some basic concepts about EA. Therefore, the report will provide information about the concept of EA along with benefits and challenges of the same. The concept of EA: EA is the concept that provides a conceptual blueprint to define the effective operations and structure of the organisation[1]. The vital role of EA is to determine the organisational process, which will be effective to meet present and future goal of the firm more effectively than the present time. Similarities of City Planning with EA City planning is the concept the focuses to make a planned city based on its economy, environment, and culture of the place. City planners also give importance on existing use of different aspects of the city. Similarly, EA also evaluates existing operational activities before making changes about the same [2]. City planning system anticipates all the critical issues that can arise while making changes within the city they also provide effective solution to those issues. Benefits of EA EA makes proper sequence among all the processes of the firm to improve the process by improving the workflow of the firm. This process also makes positive relations among suppliers and business firms, which are strategic stakeholders of the business. In this way, it makes strategic differentiation within the firm [2]. Challenges of EA Apart from aforementioned benefits of EA, there are some challenges with the same. Some organisation wants to implement EA without setting any purpose, which leads the problem about effectiveness against the purpose. Executives wish continuous support from EA, whereas EA needs continuous support from executives to deliver value so that there is a problem about the focus of the same. Organisational maturity is also one of the challenges for EA [3]. Implementation of EA in Phoenix Logistics The Open Group Architecture Framework will be effective for Phoenix Logistics to implement effective EA. It will help them to make effective operations among all the branches of the firm. As an example, Phoenix Logistics will focus on eight vital aspects while implementing this concept. Group architecture will make a positive effect on the overall organisational process. The vital aspects of this architecture are architecture vision, business architecture, information system architecture, technology architecture, opportunities architecture, migration planning, implementation governance, and architecture change management [4]. Therefore, this framework will fulfil all the perspectives of EA for improving the operational effectiveness of Phoenix Logistics. Figure 1TOGAF Source: [5] Job Interview EA can be used from four major perspectives such as information perspective, business perspective, application perspective, and technology perspective. EA focuses on the economic condition of an organisation along with their work environment and work culture because these factors have a vital effect on the effectiveness of organisational operations. EA also anticipates all the issues that can be rise due making changes in operations of the firm and they also provide a solution for the firm as city planner [3]. Application perspective focuses on standards and processes which are used by the organisation to operate the business. Business perspective is concerned about to define the effective operations based on day to day operations. Technology perspective defines all the operating systems and networking resolutions for the organisation to increase the effectiveness of their operation. Information perspective classifies all the raw data, which is important to make efficient operation [ 4]. Source: [3] The four domains provide a proper understanding of the business requirements and also provides different strategic choices for the companies. Business architecture domain helps for construction of mission and vision prospects, business requirements and business policies, service profiles and enterprise process designs. Whereas Information architecture and application architecture are intertwined with technology architecture for providing the data management and data infrastructure components for runningthe company smoothly [1]. EA provides three most effective benefits for an organisation. This process is beneficial to reduce the cost of technological standardisation; it also improves the organisational process and strategic differentiation of the firm. In technological perspective, EA focuses on the retirement of ageing and costly technologies within the firm (Lange et al., 2016). It also reduces the complexity of technological aspects, which also make a positive effect on the cost of operation by reducing the cost of training. To implement effective EA maturity of the organisation is important. Any new start-up cannot implement the process of EA effectively, as this process needs vast preparation along with active participation. Talent about this process is also one of the challenges, as the process is an art than a science so that it needs skills and talent rather than certification about the same [5]. At the end of the discussion, it can be said that EA is the effective concept to improve operations of an organisation. However, it has some challenges, but that can be overcome by appointing skilled and talented EA personnel. References [1] R. Fischer, S. Aier and R. Winter, A federated approach to enterprise architecture model maintenance, Enterprise Modelling and Information Systems Architectures, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 14-22, 2015. [2] D. Simon, K. Fischbach and D. Schoder, Enterprise architecture management and its role in corporate strategic management, Information Systems and e-Business Management, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 5-42, 2014. [3] D. Chorafas, Enterprise architecture and new generation information systems, 1 ed., London: CRC Press, 2016. [4] J. Lapalme, A. Gerber, A. Van der Merwe, J. Zachman, M. De Vries and K. Hinkelmann, Exploring the future of enterprise architecture: A Zachman perspective, Computers in Industry, vol. 79, no. 2, pp. 103-113, 2016. [5] B. Rouhani, M. Mahrin, F. Nikpay, R. Ahmad and P. Nikfard, A systematic literature review on Enterprise Architecture Implementation Methodologies, Information and Software Technology, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 1-20, 2015. [6] M. Lange, J. Mendling and J. Recker, An empirical analysis of the factors and measures of Enterprise Architecture Management success, European Journal of Information Systems, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 411-431, 2016.