An enterprise information architecture: a case study for decentralized organizations

As enterprises became increasingly information based, making improvements in their information activities is a top priority to assure their continuing competitiveness. A key to achieving these improvements is developing an enterprise information architecture (EIA). An EIA can be viewed as a structured set of multidimensional interrelated elements that support all information processes. The current ad hoc EIA in place within many enterprises cannot meet an organization's future needs because it has an incoherent framework, incompatibilities, missing elements, few and poorly understood standards, uneven quality and unnecessary duplications. This paper discusses the EIA developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a case study, for other information based enterprises, particularly those with decentralized and autonomous organization structures and cultures. While the technical architecture is important the organization and processes by which it is developed and sustained over time are equally important. This paper outlines the motivation for an EIA and discusses each of the interacting elements identified. It also presents an organization structure and processes for building a sustainable EIA activity.