This article provides an overview and summary of the COBIT 5 process Manage Enterprise Architecture, which is part of the Management – Plan (Align, Plan and Organise) domain.

The purpose of this COBIT 5 process is to implement a common architecture consisting of organisation process, information, data, application and technology architecture layers to effectively and efficiently deliver IT strategies by ensuring:

  1. The architecture and standards are effective in supporting the organisation.
  2. A portfolio of organisational architecture services supports agile changes.
  3. Appropriate and up-to-date domain and/or federated architectures exist.
  4. A common enterprise architecture framework to enable re-use efficiencies across the enterprise.

The following sub-governance processes are further supported by a list of control activities:

  1. Develop the enterprise architecture vision. The architecture vision provides a first-cut, high-level description of the baseline and target architectures, covering the organisation, information, data, and application and technology domains.
  2. Define reference architecture. The reference architecture describes the current and target architectures.
  3. Select opportunities and solutions. Rationalise the gaps between baseline and target architectures, taking both organisation and technical perspectives, and logically group them into project work packages.
  4. Define architecture implementation. Viable implementation and migration plan in alignment with the programme and project portfolios.
  5. Provide enterprise architecture services. Provide effective and efficient enterprise architecture services within the organisation.

For more information please contact Morland-Austin at info@morland-austin.com.