Using Orientor Theory for Coherent Decision Making for Application Landscape Design

More than 30 years have passed since the first enterprise architecture (EA) management framework has been published. While the field has reached a certain maturity in science and practice, a paradigm shift is just beginning. The emerging trend to regard an enterprise as complex adaptive system might allow redefining and achieving the holistic nature of EA management approaches. Thereby, the focus on static aspects of the architecture might be extended by taking behavioral aspects into account. In this paper, we argue (1) that currently available EA management approaches fall short in achieving the desired holism, i.e. viewing the system as a whole, (2) apply orientor theory to support decision making by deriving coordinated goals and principles for application landscape design and (3) show how a system-of-systems approach of applied orientor theory could look like. We conclude the paper by sketching out an appropriate research agenda. 1 Technische Universitat Munchen, Boltzmannstr. 3, 85748 Garching bei Munchen, Germany – alexander.schneider@tum.de matthes@in.tum.de

[1]  James Lapalme,et al.  Three Schools of Thought on Enterprise Architecture , 2012, IT Professional.

[2]  E. JeffreyGoldstein,et al.  Emergence as a Construct : History and Issues , 2000 .

[3]  Hartmut Bossel,et al.  Assessing Viability and Sustainability: a Systems-based Approach for Deriving Comprehensive Indicator Sets , 2002 .

[4]  Gary W. Dickson,et al.  A Principles-Based Enterprise Architecture: Lessons from Texaco and Star Enterprise , 1990, MIS Q..

[5]  Reinhard Selten,et al.  The emergence of simple languages in an experimental coordination game , 2007, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[6]  Eetu Niemi,et al.  Enterprise Architecture Benefits: Perceptions from Literature and Practice , 2008 .

[7]  Viktor Mikhaĭlovich Glushkov,et al.  An Introduction to Cybernetics , 1957, The Mathematical Gazette.

[8]  Niina Hämäläinen,et al.  Evaluation of enterprise and software architectures : critical issues, metrics and practices : [AISA Project 2005-2008] , 2008 .

[9]  Peter Bernus,et al.  Enterprise Architecture Cybernetics and the Edge of Chaos: Sustaining Enterprises as Complex Systems in Complex Business Environments , 2013, 2013 46th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[10]  K. Eisenhardt,et al.  The Art of Continuous Change : Linking Complexity Theory and Time-Paced Evolution in Relentlessly Shifting Organizations , 1997 .

[11]  Albrecht Gnauck,et al.  Applying Ecological Goal Functions: Tools for Orientor Optimization as a Basis for Decision Making Processes , 1998 .

[12]  T. Fuller,et al.  Small enterprises as complex adaptive systems: a methodological question? , 2001 .

[13]  Florian Matthes,et al.  Adopting Notions of Complexity for Enterprise Architecture Management , 2014, AMCIS.

[14]  Andrew P. Sage,et al.  A System of Systems Focused Enterprise Architecture Framework and an Associated Architecture Development Process , 2002, Inf. Knowl. Syst. Manag..

[15]  Farhad Arbab,et al.  Enterprise architecture: Management tool and blueprint for the organisation , 2006, Inf. Syst. Frontiers.

[16]  Linda Dailey Paulson IT hiring growth modest, but steady , 2006, IT Professional.

[17]  Julian Birkinshaw,et al.  WHY DO SOME MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS RELOCATE THEIR HEADQUARTERS OVERSEAS , 2006 .

[18]  Brian C. Williams,et al.  Who’s on First? Stakeholder Differences in Customer Relationship Management and the Elusive Notion of “Shared Understanding” , 2004 .

[19]  Joachim H. Spangenberg,et al.  Biodiversity pressure and the driving forces behind , 2007 .

[20]  Lucy Gilson,et al.  The Role of Shared Mental Model Development in Understanding Virtual Team Effectiveness , 2014 .

[21]  J. Ross Enterprise Architecture: Driving Business Benefits from it , 2006 .

[22]  Ulrike Lechner,et al.  Critical Issues in Enterprise Architecting - A Literature Review , 2010, AMCIS.

[23]  R. Hämäläinen,et al.  Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences , 2004 .

[24]  J ArmourFrank,et al.  Building an Enterprise Architecture Step by Step , 1999 .

[25]  Antony M. Jose,et al.  The Triple Helix: Gene, Organism, and Environment , 2001, The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.

[26]  Steven Horst,et al.  Beyond Reduction: Philosophy of Mind and Post-Reductionist Philosophy of Science , 2007 .

[27]  Graeme G. Shanks,et al.  How Does Enterprise Architecture Add Value to Organisations? , 2011, Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[28]  Gautam Ray,et al.  Competing with IT: the role of shared IT-business understanding , 2007, CACM.

[29]  F. J. Armour,et al.  Building an enterprise architecture step by step , 1999 .

[30]  Florian Matthes,et al.  Future Research Topics in Enterprise Architecture Management - A Knowledge Management Perspective , 2009, ICSOC/ServiceWave Workshops.

[31]  Suzanne M. Ward Books on Demand , 2002 .

[32]  K. Boulding General Systems Theory---The Skeleton of Science , 1956 .

[33]  Jeanne W. Ross,et al.  Creating a Strategic IT Architecture Competency: Learning in Stages , 2003, MIS Q. Executive.

[34]  Stephen H. Kaisler,et al.  Enterprise Architecting: Critical Problems , 2005, Proceedings of the 38th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[35]  Benoit Morel,et al.  Through the Looking Glass of Complexity: the Dynamics of Organizations As Adaptive and Evolving Systems , 1999 .

[36]  Marguerite Schneider,et al.  Organizations as complex adaptive systems: Implications of Complexity Theory for leadership research , 2006 .