James Lapalme

Three Schools of Thought on Enterprise Architecture

Three schools of thought on enterprise architecture exist, each with its own belief system (definitions, concerns, assumptions, and limitations). A novel taxonomy of these schools creates a starting point for resolving terminological challenges to help establish enterprise architecture as a discipline.

Exploring the future of enterprise architecture : a Zachman perspective

Abstract Today, and for the foreseeable future, organizations will face ever-increasing levels of complexity and uncertainty. Many believe that enterprise architecture (EA) will help organizations address such difficult terrain by guiding the design of adaptive and resilient enterprises and their information systems. This paper presents the “Grand Challenges” that we believe will challenge organizations in the future and need to be addressed by enterprise architecture. As a first step in using enterprise architecture as a solution for overcoming identified challenges, the Zachman Enterprise Architecture Framework is used to guide and structure the discussion. The paper presents the “Grand Challenges” and discusses promising theories and models for addressing them. In addition, current advances in the field of enterprise architecture that have begun to address the challenges will be presented. In conclusion, final thoughts on the future of enterprise architecture as a research field and a profession are offered.

.NET framework - a solution for the next generation tools for system-level modeling and simulation

Nowadays, the use of system level description languages is mandatory for the efficient design of complex systems. These description languages are exemplified by SystemC and SystemVerilog. In this paper, we propose a new .NET framework based system level modeling and simulation environment called Esys.NET (embedded systems design with .NET). It allows (1) cooperation - by enabling Web-based design and multi-language features, (2) easy systems specification task - by enabling integration of software components running application and operating systems and by alleviating memory management, (3) link to automatic refinement tools - by enabling translation of specification models into a standard intermediate format and annotation of specification models, and (4) comparative performances with existing environments.

ESys.Net: a new solution for embedded systems modeling and simulation

The next generation of tools for embedded systems design will represent a common arena for several cooperating groups. These tools will permit system design at a high abstraction level and enable automatic refinement through several abstraction levels to obtain the final prototype. To facilitate this evolution, we propose a new .Net Framework based system level modeling and simulation environment. This environment allows (1) cooperation -- by enabling web-based design and multi-language features, (2) easy systems specification task -- by enabling the integration of software components and by alleviating memory management and (3) the linking to automatic refinement tools -- by enabling the translation of model specifications into a standard intermediate format and by permitting the annotation of model specifications.

A new efficient EDA tool design methodology

New sophisticated EDA tools and methodologies will be needed to make products viable in the future marketplace by simplifying the various design stages. These tools will permit system design at a high abstraction level and enable automatic refinement through several abstraction levels to obtain a final prototype. They will have to be based on representations that are clean, complete, and easy to manipulate. In order to develop these new EDA tools, key features such as standardization, metadata programming, reflectivity, and introspection are needed. This work proposes a .Net Framework-based methodology, which possesses all these required key features. This methodology simplifies specification, synthesis, and validation of systems and enables the efficient creation/customization of EDA tools at low cost and development time. We show the effectiveness of this methodology by presenting its application for the design of a new EDA tool called ESys .Net (Embedded System design with .Net). We emphasize the specification and simulation aspects of this tool.

Enhancing ESys.Net with a semi-formal verification layer

As electronic systems reach tremendous complexity, new CAD tools are needed to cope with their design and verification. ESys.Net, a new design environment under development at Universite de Montreal proposes an elegant solution for modeling and simulation. This paper presents the extension of this environment with a complete verification layer based on linear temporal logic. This is a major enhancement to ESys.Net, since it allows designers to use it not only for modeling and simulation but also for verification.

Recent trends in hardware/software description languages

In this work. we review the evolution of hardware description languages. We describe the recent needs concerning platform based design. the challenges of the introduction of intellectual property block, the ever increasing part of software components in a digital systems and its impact on the evolution of modeling capabilities. We review the features of object oriented methodologies in dealing with these challenges and in providing design reuse capabilities as well as safe-modeling of hardware/software systems.

Leveraging model representations for system level design tools

New sophisticated EDA tools and methodologies are needed to make products viable in the marketplace by simplifying and reducing the different design stages. They are based on representations that have to be clean, complete and easy to manipulate. The needed key features are standardization, metadata programming, reflectivity and introspection. This work proposes a methodology based on .Net framework presenting all these features and allowing simpler specification, synthesis, validation and the creation of tools that cost less and take less time to build/customize. We present the simulator of ESys.Net as a case study. ESys.Net is an existing .Net based platform for system design.

Organizations (and organizing) are a technology that humans know very little about

The human-made technology that is used by organizations has played a crucial role in enabling humans to accomplish impressive endeavors. Despite the critical importance that organizations (or organizing) have played (and still play) in shaping the modern world, they are a technology that humans know very little about, and are still struggling to design and use adequately. The crux of the problem is that the study of organizations (including their design) does not fit neatly into the boxes that are modern academic disciplines. Another important series of issues concerns conducting multidisciplinary research across the silos of academic discipline. Crossing these silos is especially difficult when trying to cross-pollinate ideas as well as publish because of terminological, political, and social challenges. As such, the OD&EE journal is a necessary and important step in the right direction for addressing these issues by promoting research that is both multidisciplinary as well as oriented towards the proactive stance of design and engineering.

Analysing enterprise architecture maturity models: a learning perspective

ABSTRACT In order to aid organisations in the adoption of enterprise architecture (EA) best practices, maturity models have been proposed in the literature. These models offer organisational roadmaps and assessment frameworks for increasing EA maturity. However, key questions concerning the implied meaning of the term maturity in the context of these models have been left unexplored by previous research. This research, aided by the field of organisational learning, offers new insights into the implied assumptions of current EA maturity models and offers initial concepts and constructs to guide the conceptualisation, construction and refinement of enterprise maturity models.