Title: Defining the term "Business Architecture" | BAInstitute.org
Headings: Defining the term "Business Architecture"
Defining the term "Business Architecture"
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Content: Using the term “architecture” and failing to consider, for example, the relationships between components or governance, corrupts and degrades its meaning. In economics, a business (also called firm or enterprise) is a legally recognized organizational entity designed to provide goods and/or services to consumers while earning a profit and increasing the wealth of its owners. Businesses persevere and prosper because they make a fair profit and sustain a competitive advantage. Improving performance is an imperative in order to grow and expand the business. Considering the above and thinking first in simple, conversational terms, the Business Architecture is a blueprint of the enterprise built using architectural disciplines to improve performance. This might suffice as a definition in casual conversations and discussions as it is easy to understand. However, many will prefer a more formal definition of Business Architecture and require it in the context of an Enterprise Architecture (EA) framework. Therefore a more comprehensive and formal definition is required. In order to understand the complexity of a typical business, an organizing principle or internal structure for its components is required. Many will initially assume this organizing principle is a business function, such as web ordering or accounts receivable.