SATURN2015

In an era when generating business value is the principle consideration of what enterprise architecture (EA) does, many EA organizations face the challenge of demonstrating the value of a specific architecture choice. The challenge is further compounded by the fact that the value of architecture is often demonstrable only long after the architecture has been put in place. Even then, the ability to assign value to architecture—as opposed to a specific tool, process, or organizational change—is difficult. Departing from the "I told you so" approach for measuring the value of architecture, the Architecture Valuation Framework aims to quantify value of architecture choices at the time when those choices are being made. Expressed in business terms and echoing the concerns of cost, speed, and quality, the Architecture Valuation Framework is a technique that provides pertinent data, in the form of quantitative measures, to decision makers to aid in selecting an optimal architecture choice among alternatives.

This session discusses the structure of the framework; the approach to implementing it; and its applicability to the target architecture definition process, solution reviews, and the strategy definition.