Logistics

  • 05 May 2024
  • Topic: New2EA Cohort 2024 Takeover!

Notes

  • The cohort hails from many different backgrounds, levels of experience, and parts of the globe.
  • New2EA key learning outcomes included:
  • Ne2EA isn't a technical program, but focused on the applied-practice aspects of enterprise architecture, and emphasizes the creation of a professional-practice network and mentoring relationships.  Monthly shuffles of three-member "triads" provide a rich variety of contexts, which is overlaid throughout by valuable mentoring experiences.
  • Unique experiences included the work around a CRM Case Study and around self-assessment using tools such as SFIA, The Skills Framework for the Information Age.
  • There is some symmetry between the above-and-below-the-line capabilities from The Phelps Paper and The Hero's Journey:
  • Highlights of the program included:
    • Realization that the program was not all about technology, jargon, and frameworks, but focused instead on the applied nature of enterprise architecture in higher education and the primary aspects of leadership, communication, and trust.
    • Artifacts discussion included recommendations for the visual preparation of messages and what makes for a good and clear artifact that is able to support enterprise storytelling.
    • Design Thinking was a highlight of the program, an approach whose fundamental features can infuse the day-to-day operation of an enterprise architecture practice — emphasizing the adoption of a human-centered approach, taking ideation- and experimentation-based approaches, and holding the evaluative lenses of desirability, feasibility, and visibility,
    • Exploring how to overcome obstacles with reference to the three lenses () and the nine influencing techniques, alongside stakeholder-analysis techniques.
    • The definition and communication of problem (and opportunity) statements and the benefits of their use: these were explored through the New2EA program by statement structure feedback on assignment work, and shared experiences and examples from the cohort.
    • Engagement and Practice Roadmaps and Maturity Models and Strategy-on-a-Page for enterprise architecture.
    • ¿Do we need to establish the strategy before assessing the maturity?
    • Itana has an EA Maturity Model for Higher Education, the EAMM-EDU, and this was explored and applied in valuable ways throughout the New2EA Program, and compared with the Gartner ITScore for Enterprise Architecture.
    • Understanding how the work of enterprise architecture fits with and alongside practices such as IT Service Management and Project Management and IT Governance was valuable, both for seeing how everything fits together and for being clear(er) on the respective roles and responsibilities of various groups and functions (e.g., what ITSM and PMO do that EA does not do).
    • Advice and Wisdom included recognition that each institution's journey will be very different from others; that frameworks can and should be adapted
  • The one-on-one mentoring sessions were a hugely-valuable and very-important component of the program, providing a safe and brave space where work struggles and vulnerable feelings about enterprise architecture and participation in the program can be explored in strong and positive ways.  Mentoring also provided a space for deeper-dive and personally-attuned conversations about enterprise architecture topics, specific examples from work and applying the New2EA program outcomes and techniques, about career aspirations, and more!
  • New2EA Program participation provides applicable skills and benefits that are transferable and helpful:
    • on a personal basis (including having a broader understanding of what enterprise architecture is, establishing a network of colleagues and community, and relationship-building and communication soft skills, gaining new tools for forming and holding strategic perspectives, becoming much more focused on the big picture, and holding a view based upon a much-longer time scale than the "now", appreciating the need to know and own your own story and to tell that story consistently and effectively)
    • for each participant's institution (including roadmaps and the use of the maturity model, core artifacts, practice approaches such as forming problem statements and setting down statements of work, understanding and applying modern tools and techniques, and taking a just-enough approach to architecture artifacts, making applied use of the Higher Education Reference Models, communicating the function and holdings of the enterprise architecture practice)
  • This is not the end, but a strong beginning!
  • Some recommendations for the next cohort:
    • Start your homework early!
    • Make the most of the mentoring sessions and activate them with real-world examples from the beginning.
    • Lean In! Don't just sit on the side or float on the surface, lean in!
    • Participate fully in the Itana calls and the Itana community.

Further Information

Resources

ZOOM

  • Beth Schaefer
  • Dana Miller
  • Stephanie Warner
  • Isabel Wong
  • Eric Whitmore
  • Henry Pruitt
  • Louis King
  • Pamela Lantzy
  • Nancy Braen
  • Peter Churey
  • Sherif Rasmy
  • Sumber Warren
  • Teresa Biehler
  • Mary Stevens
  • Josh Ebert
  • Jared Login
  • Betsy Draper
  • Abduljaber Abdulqader
  • Abbie OSullivan
  • Cory Gill
  • Ashish Pandit
  • J.J. Du Chateau
  • Todd Schaefer
  • jeff kennedy



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