According to Gartner, Enterprise Architecture (EA) tools are software applications that are designed to support Enterprise Architects (as well as other business stakeholders and IT stakeholders) with planning, analysis, and execution that is strategically driven. They can also aid in connecting context and information across domains. A variety of vendors make up the EA tool market, and the software tools offered by these vendors allows EA to deliver a strategic planning discipline that helps drive targeted business outcomes. Along with helping to plan and execute business strategies, this information is useful in the investment, development, and delivery of IT solutions which enable the success of the business.
In short, Enterprise Architecture has a primary function of identifying, setting, and governing what technologies an organization uses and how those technologies are used together to produce technical capability. However, this is not to be confused with Technology Business Management (TBM) – a cost model is different from an architecture model.
Using an EA tool as a cost modeling tool would require a level of cost granularity that is not achievable. If an organization wants to utilize an EA tool as a cost modeling tool, they would need to de-aggregate these costs in order to apply them to a lower level of granularity, typically accomplished through allocations. When the costs are re-aggregated into a cost model that has defined applications and services, the model becomes incredibly difficult to explain, maintain, and govern.
For more information about Enterprise Architecture tools or to check out Proven Optics’ Cost Modeling applications, visit the links below.
Learn more about Enterprise Architecture tools, as well as a list of reviews and ratings, here
Check out the Proven Optics Public Sector TBM Cost Modeling application overview here
Check out the Proven Optics ITFM Cost Modeling application overview here