Why we use Essential for Enterprise Architecture
We have started using Essential for enterprise architecture modelling and as a EA repository. Frankly, EAS' Essential Project open source option is attractive. The Essential Project's ability to support an optimized meta-model is a base requirement for high-functioning enterprise architecture.
All high-functioning enterprise architects analyze. Their analysis tells them how a system works, and what must change to meet a set of goals. The Essential project enables an analytic approach to enterprise architecture.
We have started enabling Conexiam Navigate and some Navigate Atlases to the Essential Project. However, the cost of our time keeps exceeding the software license savings, so we perform most of our work in Avolution ABACUS.
Essential Enterprise Architecture
The Essential project is based on Open Source tools. Sadly, like many community open source project a lot of assembly is required.
The single largest barrier to adopting the Essential project as your EA repository and modelling tool is getting it installed. We have no idea why so many people assume good enterprise architects are comfortable assembling technology. Good technologists are comfortable assembling technology.
Our premiere course Enterprise Architecture with TOGAF and Navigate is including Essential Enterprise Architecture (Essential Project). The course includes several lessons focused on ABACUS use and uses models maintained in ABACUS for all exercises.
Navigate Meta-model in Essential Project
Navigate had to minimize information management. It had to add additional model capability as the needs of the EA Team expand. We insist on avoiding gathering more and more pointless information.
When we designed Navigate we used Avolution ABACUS' flexible structure. A core structure with extensible Navigate Atlases, like Navigate to support Strategy. To support different information analysis and modelling , every Navigate Atlas will add components, relationships, and properties.
In the Spring of 2020 we started migrating Navigate into the Essential project.
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Architecture isn't the Diagram
Analyzing a system for understanding and using the analysis for change is enterprise architecture. Enterprise architects use levers of change to eliminate the deficiencies.
Stakeholders who participate in the development of their enterprise architecture know where the defines and options for improve are. They know the change impact and work required. They make the choices. Working with stakeholder is central to enterprise architecture governance.
We use diagrams as one tool, a very limited tool. Diagrams represent part of an architecture, they are not very useful for understanding a system Architecture analysis by diagram is a failure path.
Frankly, the picture rarely changes between current and target. In order to show any change you need to drop lower and lower until you are at system design. Years ago removed several million hours of labour by customizing an SAP module. The current state system diagram showed SAP. The target showed the same SAP modules.
Tables Drive Analysis
The Essential Architecture Project assists in a best-practice analytic approach.
In the project that saved millions of hours, we specified the business capability target state as 'fully automated.' This business architecture specification drove a gap into the information systems architecture. After all, the current implementation of SAP included manual steps. The module was deficient and needed to change.
Simple and clear. We could govern the project.
Essential Architecture Ecosystem
The Essential Project leverages standard open source tools, and uses standard analytic tools. Microsoft Excel will let you analyze and manage information. Being able to leverage pivot tables, and standard tools is a great acceleration of an architecture team.
The Essential project is based on web-site technology. By default is makes publishing and sharing the architecture easy.
Essential project Training
Our premiere practical on-demand training course EA with TOGAF and Navigate is slowly adding Essential Project.
We started this journey in early 2020. Our migration is driven by free time and demand. We also have to drag Dave into a new tool. The saying about old-dogs & new tricks applies. Also, he stays busy consulting on digital transformation.
Essential Enterprise Architecture Training Modules
Module 3 |
Analytic Architecture 101 | Basic functions: Navigation, Catalog & Matrices |
| Unit 2 | Essential EA 101 | Basic functions: Navigation, Catalog & Matrix |
Module 6 |
Navigate Introduction |
| Unit 1 | Architecture Modelling - Formal & Informal |
| Unit 2 | Navigate Meta-model Structure |
Module 7 |
Analytic Architecture 102 | Meta-models & Navigate |
| Unit 2 | Essential EA 102 | Meta-models & Navigate |
Module 17 |
Analytic Architecture 103 | EA Repository Management |
| Unit 2 | Essential EA 103 | EA Repository Management |
Module 23 |
Analytic Architecture 104 | Modelling Choices |
| Unit 2 | Essential EA 104 | Modelling Choices |
Module 25 |
Analytic Architecture 105 | Diagrams, Charts & 3-D |
| Unit 2 | Essential EA 105 | Diagrams, Charts, and 3D |
Module 29 |
Analytic Architecture 500 | Merge & Diff |
| Unit 2 | Essential EA 500 | Merge and Diff |
Essential Project Pricing
EAS has a simple pricing model for the Essential Project - opens source or unlimited for one price.
Pick the open source option and don't pay anything. Trade your time and energy for no-fee software.
Pick the unlimited user on-your-system or in-the-cloud version and around $20,000. Trade your cash for time and energy.
We are using the open-source-option inside EA with TOGAF and Navigate.
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