Structure and method of modeling integrated business and information technology frameworks and architecture in support of a business

Abstract

An enterprise architecture ( 30 ) for a business is divided into a business architecture ( 32 ), an information technology architecture ( 34 ), and an enterprise management framework ( 36 ). The business architecture ( 32 ) is the main driver for the information technology architecture ( 34 ) but the information technology architecture ( 34 ) can also have an impact on the construction of the business architecture ( 32 ). The enterprise management framework ( 36 ) allows for the management of the two architectures. A framework tower ( 500 ) is built around essential and mandatory components of the enterprise architecture ( 30 ). The framework tower ( 500 ) is made up of a plurality of planes representing mandatory components of the enterprise architecture ( 30 ). The components of the framework tower ( 500 ) include a strategic plan ( 41 ), a business architecture ( 42 ), an information architecture ( 44 ), an application architecture ( 46 ), a technology infrastructure architecture ( 48 ), and an enterprise information technology management framework ( 49 ). Each component in the framework tower ( 500 ) addresses the people, processes, and technology of the enterprise architecture ( 30 ) so that strategic information technology planning, enterprise architecture definition, and repeatable and effective information technology enabling solutions can be performed and delivered to the business.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for modeling integrated business and information technology frameworks and architecture in support of a business comprising: 
 defining how manageable entities of a business relate to one another;    providing context and guidance that drive definition of business functions, processes, systems, and organization;    reflecting what the business does in the present as well as in the future to accomplish particular business requirements;    representing what information is to be delivered to individuals across the business;    supporting business process execution and information flow;    defining what information technology components are needed to enable access to information;    providing an information technology services and products plan including systems, network, and element management in accordance with business operations and needs.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 addressing people, processes, and technology of the business.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 defining current business direction, objectives, and supporting processes.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 defining future direction, objectives, and supporting processes.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing information and data management precepts;    providing information-application software portfolio;    providing a geo-structural view of information specific technology deployment;    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 defining an application software portfolio for the business;    defining integration relationships for the business.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 enabling access to information and geo-structural layouts for information technology platforms.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing information technology services and products;    managing the information technology services and products.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 decomposing the manageable entities into independent units.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining context and foundation components and elements to build a plan for an enterprise.    
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium including code for modeling integrated business and information technology frameworks and architecture in support of a business, the code operable to: 
 deliver repeatable and effective information technology solutions to accommodate business needs;    integrate business and technology planning;    establish a technology strategy that sustains and directs business efforts;    providing a common model to articulate mandatory components for the business and to develop information technology planning and integration approaches for the business.    
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 generate an information technology plan.    
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 determine what technology the business should invest in.    
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 determine a value received by the business as a result of the invested-in technology.    
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 generate a business plan in response to industry concerns;    develop information technology strategies in response to the business plan;    determine an information technology architecture in response to the information technology strategies.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 generate transition plans and transition information technology architectures in response to industry changes.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 decomposing the business into a plurality of manageable units.    
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 build frameworks to model the business in response to the manageable units.    
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 articulate the frameworks in a common language associated with the business.    
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the code is further operable to: 
 provide a common repository of data related to the business.