EA Update Suggestions
From an education perspective, it would be a good idea to review the EA annually, and update it as needed. Many business operate on a fiscal year schedule but schools even more so. Any education initiatives that may affect operation and organization structure would go into effect at the start of a school year, rarely right in the middle of the year, so it makes sense to review the EA close to the end of the year and negotiate any updates before the beginning of the next.
Updates are an ongoing process anyways because, “what is planned in the future EA views will eventually become the current architecture.” Updates don’t have to happen over summer break, but the EA should be reviewed annually to see what goals were met, and if parts of the future state have been achieved, then a new future state should be projected. Stakeholders are human, and life happens. New employees, especially in leadership roles or roles critical to the EAF, can bring in new skills and perspectives. Even if the mission and vision has not changed, there may be more efficient ways of approaching it. Maintaining an Enterprise Architecture is an art, but ensures both flexibility and structure of your education organization.
References:
Bernard, S. (2012). The Implementation Methodology Chapter Overview. In An Introduction to Enterprise Architecture (3rd ed., p. Chapter 4). Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.
Updates are an ongoing process anyways because, “what is planned in the future EA views will eventually become the current architecture.” Updates don’t have to happen over summer break, but the EA should be reviewed annually to see what goals were met, and if parts of the future state have been achieved, then a new future state should be projected. Stakeholders are human, and life happens. New employees, especially in leadership roles or roles critical to the EAF, can bring in new skills and perspectives. Even if the mission and vision has not changed, there may be more efficient ways of approaching it. Maintaining an Enterprise Architecture is an art, but ensures both flexibility and structure of your education organization.
References:
Bernard, S. (2012). The Implementation Methodology Chapter Overview. In An Introduction to Enterprise Architecture (3rd ed., p. Chapter 4). Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.