Structure and method of modeling integrated business and information technology frameworks and architecture in support of a business

• US 7,162,427 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hixon, Harry W. Jr., Whittle, Ralph L. Jr., Koll, Christopher M., Myrick, Conrad B.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai; Cang
• Application Number:
  US09/378,514
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 703/6, 705/1, 705/7, 705/11
• US Class Current: 705/348
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety

Abstract

An enterprise architecture (30) for a business is divided into a business architecture (32), an information technology architecture (34), and an enterprise management framework (36). The business architecture (32) is the main driver for the information technology architecture (34) but the information technology architecture (34) can also have an impact on the construction of the business architecture (32). The enterprise management framework (36) allows for the management of the two architectures. A framework tower (500) is built around essential and mandatory components of the enterprise architecture (30). The framework tower (500) is made up of a plurality of planes representing mandatory components of the enterprise architecture (30). The components of the framework tower (500) include a strategic plan (41), a business architecture (42), an information architecture (44), an application architecture (46), a technology infrastructure architecture (48), and an enterprise information technology management framework (49). Each component in the framework tower (500) addresses the people, processes, and technology of the enterprise architecture (30) so that strategic information technology planning, enterprise architecture definition, and repeatable and effective information technology enabling solutions can be performed and delivered to the business.

Claims

1. A method of computer modeling integrated business and information technology frameworks and architecture in support of a business comprising:

identifying in a computer manageable entities of the business and the existing information technology supported by each manageable entity;

generating by the computer an overall architecture for the business, the overall architecture defining how the manageable entities relate to each other and to the existing information technology;

implementing in the computer a common language in order to articulate the overall architecture;

generating by the computer a graphical representation of the overall architecture for the business according to the common language;

determining by the computer information technology requirements for the business in response to the existing information technology and the relationship among the manageable entities; and

generating by the computer a plan for implementation and deployment of future information technology among the manageable entities based on the determined information technology requirements for display by the computer within the graphical representation of the overall architecture;

wherein the overall architecture contains a plurality of components, the plurality of components including a strategic plan, a business architecture, an information architecture, an application architecture, a technology infrastructure architecture, and an enterprise IT management framework.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the overall architecture addresses people, processes, and technology of the business.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the strategic plan component includes a business plan, a product plan, a financial plan, an organization plan, a marketing plan, and a future information technology plan in support of the aforementioned plans.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the business architecture component defines current business direction, objectives, and supporting processes as well as future direction, objectives, and supporting processes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information architecture component provides information and data management precepts, an information-application software portfolio, and a geo-structural view of existing and future information technology deployment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application architecture component defines an application software portfolio and integration relationships for the manageable entities of the business.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the technology infrastructure architecture component enables access to information and geo-structural layouts for the existing and future information technology.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the enterprise information technology management framework component provides existing and future information technology services and products, management of the services, IT systems and network management, and the enterprise IT management organization capabilities, competencies, skills, and performance models.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decomposing the manageable entities so that each manageable entity has a relative independence from other manageable entities but is in context with the overall enterprise architecture.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the overall architecture provides the starting point for determining the context and foundation components and elements needed to build either a Strategic IT Plan, overall enterprise architecture, or enabling IT solutions for an enterprise.

11. A computer readable medium including code for modeling integrated business and information technology frameworks and architecture in support of a business, the code operable to:

receive data associated with manageable entities of the business and existing information technology supported by each manageable entity;

generate an overall architecture defining how manageable entities of a business relate to one another and to the existing information technology, the overall architecture including;

a strategic business plan component providing context and guidance that drive definition of business functions, processes, systems, and organization;

a business architecture component reflecting what the business does in the present as well as in the future to accomplish particular business requirements;

an information architecture component representing what information is to be delivered to individuals across the business;

an application architecture component supporting business process execution and information flow;

a technology infrastructure architecture component supporting execution of activities and defining what information technology components are needed to enable access to information;

an enterprise information technology management architecture component dealing with business and organizational management of providing information technology services and products as well as systems, network, and element management;

generate a plan for implementation and deployment of future information technology among the manageable entities pursuant to the various components of the overall architecture in response to how the manageable entities relate and to the existing information technology;

graphically displaying the overall architecture of the business;

graphically displaying how the future information technology is to be implemented and deployed within the overall architecture in response to the generated plan.