Using the Zachman Framework as a thinking tool

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Previous Work Experience

• I have been a consultant for a number of years

• Before Joining Letsema Consulting I consulted for a company that implemented ERP financial and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions

• I was involved with the BI division

Background Information

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Data Warehousing Approach Followed

I followed a very simple BI approach

1.Identify reporting requirements

DW

Data Source

A

3.Design data warehouse

2.Identify data sources

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BI Approach Pitfalls

Poor understanding of the current business processes

I didn’t bother to determine: • Any AS-IS processes• Reasons for reporting requirements• The impact that these requirements will have on

the organisation

Poor understanding of the organisations operating model

I didn’t bother to determine: • Levels of integration and standardisation• Reasons why the data was in the state that it

was• Long term vision and strategy• Capability

At that stage these two concepts were foreign to me and I only realised the importance later on in my career

Building capability and sustainability didn’t even cross my mind

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Journey with Enterprise Architecture

TOGAF

SOA

ITIL

Zachman

eTOM

EA

What?

SPARX

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Journey with Enterprise Architecture…

Integration project with logistics company

1. Identify reporting requirements

DW

Data Source

A

2. Identify data sources

Data Source

B

3. Design data warehouse

Design Using Excel \ Visio etc…

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Journey with Enterprise Architecture…

First introduction to a classification framework and a UML modelling tool

UML Modelling tool

The Zachman Framework

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Identification of three areas that need to be addressed

1.Business Architecture

2.Information Systems Architecture

3.Technology Architecture

After spending a few days learning about the Zachman Framework I identified three areas that I needed to address urgently

I started to realise the importance of understanding:• The business• It’s processes • Goals and Objects • The way it operated

I needed to re-look at:• The type of systems that were being used• The data generated

I focused on the technology platforms to be used:

• SQL database

• Test and Live environments

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The Zachman Framework

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Journey with Enterprise Architecture…

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Planner Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Planner Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Planner Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Owner Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Owner Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Owner Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Designer Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Designer Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Business Architecture – Designer Perspective

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Business Architecture: What was accomplished?

1.Business Functions

2.People

3.Motivation

• I identified the: • Key business functions• Potential gaps/ process weaknesses

• I developed:• The ‘AS-IS’ process• The ‘TO BE’ process that address those gaps

• I identified the relevant organisational divisions• I was able to assign effective roles and

responsibilities

•I was able to align my solution with the objectives of the organisation

• and, determine the impact of my solution on those objectives

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The Zachman Framework

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Systems Architecture – Planner Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Systems Architecture – Owner Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Systems Architecture – Designer Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Systems Architecture – Builder Perspective

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Information Systems Architecture: What was accomplished?

1.Applications

2.Data

• I identified all source applications responsible for providing the data

• I was able to identify the opportunity to develop a web interface ‘capture screen’ that would create a control mechanism for user input.

• Additional sources of data were identified • Designed the database extensively before

developing it in SQL. By doing this I was able to address any logical flaws in my design

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The Zachman Framework

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Technology Architecture – Planner Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Technology Architecture – Owner Perspective

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The Zachman Framework

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Using the Zachman Framework to address the Information Technology Architecture – Designer Perspective

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Using the Zachman Framework to develop viewpoints

The Zachman Framework helped me to develop effective viewpoints to communicate with the client

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Final Solution

1.Web Interface replaced multiple excel spreadsheets

Staging DB

DW

2.webMethods inserts data into staging database

Centralised capture screen

1

2

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3.Data is cleaned and sent to data warehouse

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4.Reports are generated from Cognos

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Insight gained from using the Zachman Framework

Business

People Processes

Systems

Roles & Responsibilities

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What the Zachman Framework has done for me

1.Provides an effective framework for breaking down problems into logical components

I am now confident of walking into a client environment and having a solid and complete framework for problem solving

2.Getting to understand the organisation as a whole

Before I start with any project, I first get to know the client environment and how the organisation operates

Before implementing any solution I ensure that it is sustainable and that I have contributed to developing capability

3.Focus on building capability and sustainability