Enterprise Application Architecture

The Enterprise Application Architecture (EAA) defines the collection of application systems required to support the business processes and information needs as expressed in the Enterprise Business Architecture (EBA) and Enterprise Information Architecture (EIA).

• Includes an inventory of currently deployed applications and components.
• Each set of applications are linked to the business processes that they support.
• Used for gap analysis to determine what applications are needed in the future based on business functions not well supported, or the removal of applications no longer linked to business needs.
• Relationships to the supporting infrastructure and ETA are shown.
• Highlights interfaces between components in the ETA.

Recently, I have been considering Application Portfolio Management, as a practical method for building and maintaining the Enterprise Application Architecture inventory and rationalization.