Title: Defining the term "Business Architecture" | BAInstitute.org
Headings: Defining the term "Business Architecture"
Defining the term "Business Architecture"
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Content: But, the business function as an organizing principle is unsuitable as its limited view impedes analysis of enterprise results. Describing the Business Architecture in terms of its business functions will yield results similar to the children’s story of the “blind men describing the elephant.” Business functions are usually classifications or categories of processes and from the enterprise perspective; sometimes their integration is poorly understood. Referring back to the construction “architecture” metaphor, the blueprint is defined by the architect, and understood by the builders and future homeowners. All can visualize the home’s structure, the relationships between various living areas, and the integration with the surrounding community to determine any specific needs of the homeowners. This visualization of the future home is most important to the homeowners and this analysis of the blueprint helps ensure their requirements are met. You can not achieve the same visualizations by viewing a classification of the building materials. Putting the bricks, stone, lumber, piping, wiring, roofing materials and appliances in neatly defined categories does not enable the same visualization and analysis afforded by the blueprint. While both blueprints and classifications of building materials are important, each has a different purpose and benefit to the homeowner.