Optimizing Enterprise Architecture: Strategic Approaches to Managing Enterprise Architecture Debt

As organizations grow and evolve in complexity, the strategic management of Enterprise Architecture (EA) becomes crucial for maintaining alignment between business goals and IT infrastructure. Enterprise Architecture Debt (EAD), a concept analogous to Technical Debt, encompasses both technical systems and business processes, reflecting deviations from an ideal enterprise architecture. This study explores how organizations measure, manage, and mitigate Enterprise Architecture Debt (EAD), as well as the key challenges and strategies involved in this process. Through semi-structured interviews with five EA experts and a thematic analysis of their insights, we investigate current practices and challenges in measuring and managing EAD. Our findings reveal professionals’ keen interest in refining these metrics, highlighting the necessity of adaptable, relevant, and cost-effective strategies in EAD management. This research emphasizes the critical role of tailored metrics in fostering efficient architectural strategies and aligning them with organizational objectives, thereby facilitating improved agility and strategic outcomes in enterprise architecture management.