A lightweight method for the modelling of enterprise architectures

Abstract

This paper introduces an easy to learn method to describe enterprise architectures with a limited focus on the relation between enterprise functions and IT-systems. We have designed the Enterprise Architecture Modelling method (EAM), driven by our teaching requirements and based on our ERP modelling experience. EAM consists of these diagram types: the Supply Chain Diagram, showing the business environment; the Enterprise Function Diagrams for the interoperation of enterprise functions; the Scenario Overlay for modelling the main business processes; the System Infrastructure Diagram, depicting the technical infrastructure of IT systems and networks; and the Application Overlay Diagram, showing which applications give support to which enterprise functions. We satisfactorily conducted about 40 case studies based on EAM. To solicit feedback we performed an enquiry among users of EAM. A future step will be testing the use of EAM in managerial decision taking in practice. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.