Enterprise Architecture: SteelCo, MultiCorp, FinCorp

This report discusses the architecture functions and positions at SteelCo, the operating model of MultiCorp and its strategic business units, and the value of the EA tool at FinCorp. It also covers business processes, data integration, and the IT landscape structure.

Enterprise
Architecture

Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
REPORT 1.1................................................................................................................................................3
1. Write a report on how should SteelCo structure its architecture function in terms of necessary
architecture positions?.............................................................................................................................3
2. How many architects does the company need for each of these positions? Provide detailed
explanation..............................................................................................................................................4
REPORT 1.2................................................................................................................................................4
1. What is an operating model of MultiCorp and each of its three strategic business units?....................4
2. What particular business processes are standardized company-wide and within each of its business
units?.......................................................................................................................................................5
3. What specific types of data are integrated across the whole company and each of its business units? 6
4. What is the highest-level structure of the IT landscape in the company and in each of its business
units?.......................................................................................................................................................6
REPORT 1.3................................................................................................................................................7
1. What is wrong with the installed EA tool?..........................................................................................7
2. Is the tool adding value to FinCorp?....................................................................................................7
3. How can the tool be used to facilitate business and IT alignment?......................................................7
4. What should be done to maximize the value of the tool for the company?..........................................8
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................8
REFENCES...............................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Enterprise Architecture is considered as a process through which a company standardizes
as well as organize IT infrastructure in order to align with the business desire goals and
objectives. These types of strategies generally support digital transformation, modernization of
IT as well as IT growth as a department (Ahlemann, Legner and Lux, 2020). The respective
report is based on the three case studies i.e. on Steel Co, Multi Corp and Fin Corp, these all are
going through different situations. Topics included in this report are related to Steel Co structure
architecture its functions for necessary positions as well as it also include numbers of
architectures, Company needed for ever position. Moreover, it will also include operating model
of Multi Corp; their business process according to each unit, types of data which are integrated
with company as well as it will also include highest level structure of IT landscape. In respect of
third case study report will include information related to EA tool, tool which adds value to
company, who to use that tool and ways to maximize value of tool for respective company.
REPORT 1.1
1. Write a report on how should SteelCo structure its architecture function in terms of necessary
architecture positions?
SteelCo is a large steel manufacturing firm which split into two major divisions i.e.
Division Alpha and Division Beta. Both the divisions are operating through a specific structure
which helps them in conducting architecture function effectively for gaining architecture
position. According to structure both divisions are governed through the lean central head office
as well as they conduct reporting to financial indicators to the top business executives on the
quarterly basis. This can be considered as hierarchical structure according to which Steel Co is
operating their business operations and functions with two divisions. Both Alpha and Beta are
operating their business independently without overlapping products, suppliers, market and
customers. Every division of companies is managed by appointed executive directors who report
directly to the C- Level corporate leadership (Dale and Scheepers, 2020). Division Alpha is large
scale centralized manufacturing company which is specialized on fabricating a single product
line that directly distributed to narrow circle of wholesale customers. On the other hand, Division

Beta adopt or follow complex, diversified and dynamic business model as they have three core
products line which focus on the different market segments as well as customer groups. This
shows that both divisions i.e. Division Alpha as well as Division Beta follow similar
organization structure but through slightly different aspects because their operations are based on
different products lines.
2. How many architects does the company need for each of these positions? Provide detailed
explanation.
Steel Co is a one of the largest steel manufacturing company and now they are split into
two major divisions i.e. Division Alpha and Division Beta. Both divisions are governed from the
lean central head office as well as they managed every division through an appointed executive
director who will direct report to C level corporate leadership (Haron, 2020). Division Alpha is
specialized on fabricating single products lines that are directly distributed to the narrow circle of
wholesale customers through stable supply chain network. For this division IT department
employing nearby 150 to 180 in house specialists who will perform manufacturing work in as
well as appropriate manner so that respective division will attain their desire goal and target
successfully. Along with this they are also appointing 100 to 120 external contractors who work
on the full time basis because through this work accomplish in short time duration as well as
efficiency of work get enhanced. On the other hand Division Beta conduct its business through
complex, diversified and dynamic model as they offer three cores line products at the
marketplace. For this division IT department employing around 450 to 500 IT staff who are
qualified in different technologies that are used for division’s IT landscape. Through this, IT
work will able to conduct in effective manner which help Division Beta in attaining their
predetermined goal as well as target successfully.
REPORT 1.2
1. What is an operating model of MultiCorp and each of its three strategic business units?
Multi Corp is known as diversified as well as multi Profile Company which is operating
in conglomerate sections and their business is bifurcated into three sectors i.e. Unit Alpha, Unit
Beta and Unit Gamma (Henningsson and Toppenberg, 2020). The respective company operating
model is that business is governed through the central head office that oversight the three

subsidiary business firms as well as their financial performance. Unit Alpha, Unit Beta and Unit
Gamma have their own managing directors who have full responsibilities as well as discretion
over their competitive strategies, budget allocation, investment priorities and yearly profit
ensure. In addition to this, Unit Alpha is a food manufacturing business that includes groceries,
meat, dairy, vegetables and many other products. Organization model of Unit Alpha is that they
deliver their products largely to same circle of customers that will include both local food shops
as well as major retailers. Next unit is Beta which is operating a restaurant business as well as
they have more than 80 restaurants at different geographies location (Henningsson and
Toppenberg, 2020). According to their organizational model they offer same menu, price, meals,
interiors and services at every location so that customers feel their standardized services at every
location. The last Unit is Gamma which is a chain of resort hotel; this unit is mainly famous for
their standard services and price. Organizational model of Unit Gamma is based on standardized
plan to all customers as well as they also include back office processes across hotel chain,
suppliers and service providers.
2. What particular business processes are standardized company-wide and within each of its
business units?
The business process is considered as collection of linked tasks that are finding its end in
the delivery of products or services to their potential customers or clients. It is also considered as
business activities which are conducted for attaining desire goal as well as objective. In respect
of Multi Corp it is a conglomerate company which conducting its business through three units
that are under separate brand in different sectors i.e. Unit Alpha, Unit Beta and Unit Gamma.
Business process of Unit Alpha is related to the food manufacturing as they produce as well as
distributes variety of goods including vegetables, meats, dairy products and groceries. Respective
unit different products line required unique business process that include production process,
transportation, storage arrangement, underlying equipments and may more (Kotusev and et. al.,
2020). Another unit is Beta which is a restaurant business and they have more than 80 restaurants
at different locations as well as their business process is separately run by chief manager. The
respective person is responsible for all financial well being as well as business processes such as
training, procurement, cooking, and services and so on. The third unit of Multi Corp is Gamma
which runs a chain of resort hotel and they want to improve their competitive strategies. In
respect of this, business process adopted by Gamma is to collect more information about

customers, their preferences and transaction histories as that will help management in developing
effective decision accordingly such as launching of loyalty program, providing customized
services and many more.
3. What specific types of data are integrated across the whole company and each of its business
units?
Multi Corp is multi Profile Company which have three divisions i.e. Unit Alpha, Unit
Beta and Unit Gamma. The types of data which they are integrated across are business
operations of all units along with their financial performance so that management at the head
office can develop decisions as well as plans accordingly. In respect of Unit Alpha, type of data
in which they are integrated with is related to strategies for the unique storage management,
production process, transportation approach, equipments and may other. Through this type of
data respective unit management able to develop proper strategies which help them in attaining
their desire goal and objective (Kurnia and et. al., 2020). Next unit is Beta which is restaurant
business which is nested in more than 80 different geographical locations as well as types of data
which they required are based on financial well being of different restaurants. Along with this
they also integrated type of data which is related to business process like training, procurement,
cooking, recruitment, cleaning, complaints and many more. The last unit is Gamma which is runs
as a chain of resort hotel and they want to develop strategies through which they can gain high
competitive advantages at potential marketplace. For which they will integrated types of data like
customers expectation, preferences, their travel history and many more because through this they
can develop most effective decision as well as strategies.
4. What is the highest-level structure of the IT landscape in the company and in each of its
business units?
IT landscape is considered as architecture drawing which is mainly based on the logical
level which shows structure as well as working of IT in a company workplace. In respect of Fin
Corp, their high level structure of IT landscape will be management who conduct their work at
head office as well as they develop strategies for all the units i.e. Alpha, Beta and Gamma (Lê,
2020). In respect of Alpha, Beta and Gamma their highest level structure will be executive
employees who are handling each and every work at the workplace so that they can attain their
desire goal as well as objectives successfully.

REPORT 1.3
1. What is wrong with the installed EA tool?
Enterprise Architecture tool is determined as a software application such as Dragon 1
which help a company in several aspects like administer, store, model, view, manage
architecture, visualized and inform entire enterprise. Fin Corp is a middle size company and they
established fully fledged EA activities in order to accommodate with growing problems.
Through the implementation of new EA tool respective company is gaining numbers of benefits
but according to company CIO there is certain limitation of tools (Lestari and et. al., 2020). The
aspects which CIO consider as wrong about the enterprise architecture tool is that new EA tool is
expensive and it is waste of money. This is so because CIO considers it as nothing more than a
sophisticated repository of recent state information or data. According to CIO new tool also not
facilitate informed decision making among the business stakeholders as well as according to
them tool also not contributes to the achievement of original objective or goal for improving
business as well as IT alignment.
2. Is the tool adding value to FinCorp?
Fin Corp adopts and acquires a new powerful as well as expensive enterprise architecture
tool from the well known vendor. This is so because respective company management has
believed that they will attain their desire goal as well as it will also help them in boosting
business effectively. Respective company installed and configured the new tool then established
a central repository in order to store architectural information as well as after that it will send its
team of architecture a special training which is supplied by tool vendor (McKellar, 2020). In
addition to this, through new EA tool, after conducting training, architects able to document their
most areas of organizational IT landscape as well as it will also help them in updating all
information. Along with this architects are also impressed with the visualization, modeling and
analytical capabilities of new EA tool. These are the factors through which additional value of
new EA tool can be determined for Fin Corp.
3. How can the tool be used to facilitate business and IT alignment?
There are several stages through which Fin Corp can use EA tool in order to facilitate
business as well as IT alignment, from which first stage is to adopt business outcome driven EA
programme so that strategies and business operation will be conducted accordingly, next stage is

to develop a value proposition in order to achieve organizational buy in as well as mandate
strategies. Third stage is to start with business architecture first which help in developing
strategies and guidelines according to which employees need to conduct work as well as forth
stage is to determine organization design according to which work need to conduct. Fifth phase
is to determine skills and abilities of employees as through which stages which they can adopt
will be developed (Pérez-Castillo, Ruiz and Piattini, 2020). Last stage is the implementation as
well as monitoring according to which respective company will implement EA tool and
determine its effectiveness. Through this Fin Corp able to implement new enterprise architecture
in effective as well as successful manner which help them in attaining desire goal and objective.
4. What should be done to maximize the value of the tool for the company?
There are several methods through which Fin Corp can maximize their value of tool
through which they can attain their desire goal as well as objective in successful manner. In
respect of this they can provide training and development session to all employees so that they
can conduct work effectively by adopting EA tool. Along with this they can also motivate their
employees so that they get ready to adopt new strategies as well as plans for implementing EA
tool in appropriate way, for this they can design different practices such as provide appraisal to
staffs, provide certifications or reward according to performance and many more. In addition to
this, they can also develop as well as maintain proper relationship among employer and
employees so that they can perform their work effectively (Silva, Sousa and da Silva, 2020).
They must also discuss plan or strategies with the employees so that they feel important for the
workplace which encourages them to adopt tool in proper way which help in attaining desire
goal and objective.
CONCLUSION
By analyzing above discussed point it can be summarized that for every company it is
essential to conduct their business operations and functions in effective manner because through
that they can attain their desire goal as well as objectives successfully. Moreover, if a company is
operating in through different divisions then it is essential for management to understand their
structure because that will help them in develop decision. It is also necessary for them to conduct
recruitment practices according to the company requirement as that will help in smooth as well

as effective functioning of project. Along with this it is also necessary for a company to
understand their operating model, business process and types of data because that will help their
management in developing most effective decision through which they can gain high competitive
advantages. In addition to this if a company is adopting or implementing EA (Enterprise
Architecture) tool then they need to determine its effectiveness as well as limitation as through
that they take best decision accordingly. Furthermore, company management also needs to
determine usage of EA tool which help them in conducting business operations as well as
functions in effective manner.

REFENCES
Books and Journals
Ahlemann, F., Legner, C. and Lux, J., 2020. A resource-based perspective of value generation
through enterprise architecture management. Information & Management, p.103266.
Dale, M. and Scheepers, H., 2020. Enterprise architecture implementation as interpersonal
connection: Building support and commitment. Information Systems Journal. 30(1).
pp.150-184.
Haron, N. H., 2020. The importance of enterprise architecture in public health surveillance
system.
Henningsson, S. and Toppenberg, G. N., 2020. Acquisitions: The New Game for Enterprise
Architecture. In Architecting Growth in the Digital Era (pp. 1-6). Springer, Cham.
Henningsson, S. and Toppenberg, G. N., 2020. The Advanced Enterprise Architecture
Capability. In Architecting Growth in the Digital Era (pp. 21-38). Springer, Cham.
Kotusev, S. and et. al., 2020, January. Can Enterprise Architecture Be Based on the Business
Strategy?. In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System
Sciences.
Kurnia, S. and et. al., 2020, January. Artifacts, Activities, Benefits and Blockers: Exploring
Enterprise Architecture Practice in Depth. In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii
International Conference on System Sciences.
Lê, L. S., 2020. Diagramming Multi-Level Service-Oriented Enterprise Architecture. SN
Computer Science. 1(1). p.14.
Lestari, S. and et. al., 2020. Enterprise Architecture Dimension e-Government Ranking
Indonesia. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. 24(2).
McKellar, Z., 2020. SharePoint Design and Implementation-An Enterprise Architecture Solution.
Pérez-Castillo, R., Ruiz, F. and Piattini, M., 2020. A decision-making support system for
Enterprise Architecture Modelling. Decision Support Systems. 131. p.113249.
Silva, N., Sousa, P. and da Silva, M. M., 2020. Maintenance of Enterprise Architecture
Models. Business & Information Systems Engineering, pp.1-24.