Maxime Bernaert

Enterprise architecture for small and medium-sized enterprises: a starting point for bringing EA to SMEs, based on adoption models

On the one hand, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are important drivers of economy. SMEs face a number of problems due to a lack of structure and overview of the company. On the other hand, enterprise architecture (EA) can be used as a holistic approach to keep things aligned in a company. Some emphasize the use of EA to align IT with the business, others see it broader and use it to also keep the processes aligned with the strategy. This article refers to solutions that EA can bring to the problems regarding a lack of structure and overview in companies. While EA has gained importance in larger companies and EA can also provide similar benefits to SMEs, hardly any article discusses EA for SMEs. An exploratory research in Flemish SMEs confirms that in practice none of the SMEs knows or uses EA. It is clear that there still exists a gap between EA and SMEs. The main goal of this article is first investigating why EA is not yet adopted by SMEs, despite the benefits EA can offer. Adoption models offer insight in the adoption process. Second, this article offers a starting point for EA technique developers to really adapt EA techniques to an SME context. Research steps are given to start developing EA techniques, as well as a starting point for a metamodel based on only four concepts, because the characteristics of SMEs emphasize the need of simple EA techniques. These concepts refer to four dimensions that are present in a broad spectrum of EA techniques.Enterprise architecture (EA) is a coherent whole of principles, methods, and models that are used in the design and realization of an enterprise’s organizational structure, business processes, information systems, and IT infrastructure. EA is used as a holistic approach to keep things aligned in a company. Some emphasize the use of EA to align IT with the business, others see it broader and use it to also keep the processes aligned with the strategy. Recent research indicates the need for EA in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), important drivers of the economy, as they struggle with problems related to a lack of structure and overview of their business. However, existing EA frameworks are perceived as too complex and, to date, none of the EA approaches are sufficiently adapted to the SME context. Therefore, in this PhD, we present the CHOOSE approach for EA for SMEs. The approach consists of four artifacts: a metamodel, a method, software tool support, and a visualization. The approach is kept simple so that it may be applied in an SME context and is based on the essential dimensions of EA frameworks. Five steps were taken: first, the problem of EA in SMEs was extensively analyzed. Next, the CHOOSE metamodel was developed during action research in SMEs. Then, action research in six companies was used to develop an adequate method (consisting of guidelines, a roadmap, and stop criteria) and to further refine this CHOOSE metamodel, while different types of software tools (PC, iPad, Android, ...) were developed to enable the evaluation rounds. Finally, a proper visualization was established.

CHOOSE: Towards a metamodel for enterprise architecture in small and medium-sized enterprises

Enterprise architecture (EA) is a coherent whole of principles, methods, and models that are used in the design and realization of an enterprise’s organizational structure, business processes, information systems, and IT infrastructure. Recent research indicates the need for EA in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), important drivers of the economy, as they struggle with problems related to a lack of structure and overview of their business. However, existing EA frameworks are perceived as too complex and, to date, none of the EA approaches are sufficiently adapted to the SME context. Therefore, this paper presents the CHOOSE metamodel for EA in SMEs that was developed and evaluated through action research in an SME and further refined and validated through case study research in five other SMEs. This metamodel is based on the essential dimensions of EA frameworks and is kept simple so that it may be applied in an SME context. The final CHOOSE metamodel includes only four essential concepts (i.e. goal, actor, operation, object), one for each most frequently used EA focus. As an example, an extract is included from the specific model that was created for the SME used in our action research. Finally, the CHOOSE metamodel is evaluated according to the dimensions essential in EA and the requirements for EA in an SME context.

The Quest for Know-How, Know-Why, Know-What and Know-Who: Using KAOS for Enterprise Modelling

While the field of information systems engineering is largely focussed on developing methods for complex problems and larger enterprises, less is done to specifically address the needs of smaller organizations like small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), although they are important drivers of economy. These needs include a better understanding of the processes (know-how), why things are done (know-why), what concepts are used (know-what) and who is responsible (know-who). In this paper, the KAOS approach is evaluated as not only useful for developing software projects, but with the potential to be used for developing a business architecture or enterprise model. An example of KAOS is given, by way of illustration, and KAOS was applied by an SME’s CEO, which resulted in a set of questions for further research.

Development of Software Tool Support for Enterprise Architecture in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Throughout recent years a lot of research has been done to develop enterprise architecture (EA) approaches for large and complex enterprises. Consequently, an array of tools has been developed for these large enterprises to aid in EA management. However, traditional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are very important for economy, have to a great extent been neglected. Recently research has been done towards a new EA approach for SMEs. The approach is called CHOOSE. As tool support is almost indispensable in complex environments, the need for tool support was quickly experienced while doing case studies in SMEs. Unfortunately, tool support is already rated low on usability by EA practitioners in large companies. A different approach was required to provide tool support for managers in SMEs. The developed software tool already received positive feedback from managers.

Evaluating and Improving the Visualisation of CHOOSE, an Enterprise Architecture Approach for SMEs

Enterprise architecture (EA) serves as a means to improve business-IT and strategy-operations alignment in an organisation. While it is a fairly mature domain in large enterprises, the need for EA in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has only been recently addressed. As SMEs have different characteristics and cope with specific problems, a different approach is essential to enable a successful adoption of EA. In order to meet these particular requirements of SMEs, the EA approach CHOOSE has been developed. In previous research, emphasis has been put on refining the method and metamodel of CHOOSE and on the development of supporting software tools. However, the visual notation of CHOOSE has not been investigated yet, while the form of representation has a great impact on the cognitive effectiveness of a diagram. This paper assesses the current visualisation of CHOOSE, describes alternatives and conducts an experimental comparison.

An Android Tablet Tool for Enterprise Architecture Modeling in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Enterprise architecture (EA) is used to improve the alignment of different facets of a company. The recognition for the need of EA in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has recently risen as a means to manage complexity and change [1]. Due to the specific problems and characteristics of SMEs, a different approach is necessary. CHOOSE was therefore developed as an EA approach focused on and adapted to the characteristics and needs of SMEs [2]. During case studies performed with CHOOSE, the need for software tool support became apparent. This paper describes a mobile software tool in support of the CHOOSE approach that should guide the CEO as enterprise architect throughout the entire EA process and facilitate the implementation, management, and maintenance of the resulting EA model. The generic development decisions make this software tool widely applicable for a multitude of models. Finally, evaluation in two Belgian SMEs is presented.

Simplicity is not Simple: How Business Architecture in One of Belgium’s Biggest Companies Can Be Simple and Easy-to-Use

As organizations are becoming more complex, Enterprise Architecture (EA) serves as an important means to align the strategy with the operations and to achieve business/IT (i.e., Information Technology) alignment. Although numerous approaches have been designed for large enterprises, little EA research was oriented towards small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, both organizational types are fundamentally different and require a tailored approach. Therefore, CHOOSE was designed as an EA approach that is in accordance with the needs of SMEs. By performing a case study in the department of a large enterprise, this paper aims to investigate how CHOOSE can be used outside its original context. More specifically, it will be examined how the metamodel and modeling method could be extended to deliver an overview and valuable insights about a complex business reality. To realize this, potential solutions for the encountered issues are formulated and evaluated by the involved business stakeholders.