Description: A Case for Action should be done to help synthesize the major artifacts, lessons, and recommendations for next steps after an EA engagement.
This document is to help stakeholders organize/move to deliver on the outcomes identified in the engagement.
Goals:Provide decision-makers and other stakeholders in your EA engagement with a comprehensive representation of the current state and recommendations for next steps.
Context:To improve an identified capability.
Scope:It has broad applicability, but the depth and detail in the document would likely vary with scope of the need addressed. The tool supplements a project charter or program charter (depending on the scope).
Source:Examples provided by Jenni Laughlin, University of Washington
Scenarios
Summarize work to date and share recommendations on next steps the business can take.
Build consensus on what was accomplished in an EA engagement and what the next steps are.
From governance perspective, to justify funding of next steps / recommendations.
Creators:
Architects in the discovery effort (may include solutions architect, information architect, etc)
Business Analyst
Sponsor/champion
Consumers
All stakeholders. The presentation may need to be tailored to specific audiences, but the core material should generally apply.
Sponsors, Business Owners, Architecture and/or Portfolio Review Boards, Subject Matter Experts, Service Owners, Line of Business People, Technology owners
Method
Roles:Architects should facilitate and author this.
Steps:
Pre-condition: Analysis is nearing completion and is ready to be summarized.
Pre-condition: Stakeholders have gone through norming process about the as-is, to-be, and initial roadmap draft.
Gather artifacts and determine which can be applied as is and which should be tailored for publication
Author introductionto create a narrative context and frame
Present roadmap
Outline justification for roadmap
Construct a recommendation on the immediate next steps / recommendations.
Optionally present as a business case with resource estimates and cost/benefit
Templates: The following list, which is excerpted from the table of contents of a U. Wash document, illustrates the structure of this tool and drives the method.
Table of Contents
Summary and Roadmap
Challenges and Opportunities
Current Examples
Example: A
Example: B
Example: C
Example: D
Examples in Other Organizations
Example: Facility-Related Asset Information at Other Universities
Example: UW Policy Directory
Justification
Benefits to customers (students, staff, faculty)
Savings at Other Universities
Risk of not doing this (compliance)
Associated risks
Recommendations
Start a program
Identify Stakeholders from Organizations Across the Facility Lifecycle
Form an Information Management Steering Group
Example Initiatives
Communication
Examples
At University of Washington, we did something similar to help our business partners in Facilities define the lifecycle of building-related documentation, create a roadmap, and launch a technology initiative: