The Enterprise Agility Experiment

Welcome to Issue 46!

Hello, agile aspirants! In this edition of “Enterprise Architecture: The Struggle is Real,” we’re tackling one of the hottest topics in enterprise architecture today: agility. Can large enterprises ever truly be “agile,” or are they doomed to move at the speed of a glacier? Let’s explore the challenges of trying to blend agility with the structures, processes, and legacy systems of a large organization.

The Main Story: The Agility Tug-of-War

Imagine your enterprise as a colossal ship—a massive liner designed for steady, reliable journeys. Now, management wants to make this ship as nimble as a speedboat. The innovation team is raring to go, while the finance and legal departments pull the brakes, insisting on careful planning. As the architect, you’re tasked with balancing these two extremes, introducing agility where it’s possible without losing stability.

TOGAF to the Rescue (Again)

TOGAF’s ADM can be adapted to support agile principles by focusing on iterative phases and incremental improvements. With TOGAF’s structured framework, you can introduce agility without compromising the long-term goals of the architecture. It’s about finding the right places to be flexible and letting teams experiment within a controlled framework.

The Educational Twist: Tips for Introducing Agility into a Traditional Enterprise

• Implement Iterative Planning: Break down long-term projects into smaller phases with room for adjustments, allowing teams to pivot as they learn.

• Empower Cross-Functional Teams: Create agile teams from different departments, giving them autonomy to make decisions quickly while remaining aligned with architecture.

• Pilot Agile Practices: Test agile methods on smaller projects first to gain insights and demonstrate the benefits before scaling to larger initiatives.

Humor in Diagrams

Share and Connect

Have you tried to bring agility to a large organization? Share your stories about blending agility with tradition, and how you’ve managed to introduce speed while keeping stability for a chance to be featured!

Wrapping Up

While agility in the enterprise may seem like a tough balancing act, it’s possible to create a hybrid model that leverages the best of both worlds with thoughtful planning and open-minded experimentation.

Next Week’s Sneak Peek: “The Security Debt Disaster” - Exploring the hidden costs of deferring security upgrades and how to manage security debt effectively.

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