The Automation Ambush

Welcome to Issue 38!

Hello, automation aficionados! This week in “Enterprise Architecture: The Struggle is Real,” we’re diving headfirst into the world of automation. It’s fast, efficient, and promises to streamline everything—but beware! The road to full automation is full of unexpected challenges that can easily ambush the unprepared.

The Main Story: The Automation Trap

Picture your enterprise as a sleek, high-speed train barreling down the tracks of progress. Automation is the engine driving everything forward, but suddenly—WHAM!—you hit a curve too fast, and things start to derail. From processes that are automated into oblivion to employees overwhelmed by the complexity of new systems, automation can create as many problems as it solves if not managed properly.

TOGAF to the Rescue (Again)

TOGAF’s Business and Technology Architecture phases provide the framework to avoid these pitfalls. By strategically planning automation projects and aligning them with your enterprise architecture, TOGAF helps ensure that automation enhances, rather than hinders, your operations. It’s all about balancing automation with human oversight.

The Educational Twist: Best Practices for Automation

• Start Small, Scale Later: Pilot automation in smaller processes to identify potential issues before scaling across the enterprise.

• Don’t Automate Complexity: Keep it simple—automate tasks that are repetitive and well-understood. Complex processes often need a human touch.

• Maintain Human Oversight: While automation is powerful, human intervention is essential for handling exceptions and ensuring quality control.

Humor in Diagrams

Share and Connect

Have you experienced an automation ambush in your organization? Share your stories of automation gone wrong (or right!) for a chance to be featured!

Wrapping Up

While automation can greatly boost efficiency, it needs to be approached thoughtfully. With careful planning and ongoing oversight, you can avoid the ambush and keep your enterprise running smoothly.

Next Week’s Sneak Peek: “The Data Privacy Dilemma” - Managing data privacy and staying compliant while driving value from enterprise data.

Stay tuned for more automation insights with “Enterprise Architecture: The Struggle is Real”!