The Mechanics of Enterprise Architecture Principles

Inspired by the city planning metaphor, enterprise architecture (EA) has gained considerable attention from academia and industry for systematically an IT landscape. Since EA is a relatively young discipline, great deal of its work focuses on representations (descriptive EA) that conceptualize different layers, their components, relationships. Beyond representations, should comprise principles guide design evolution toward predefined value outcomes (prescriptive EA). However, research still very limited. Notwithstanding increasing consensus regarding role definition principles, limited publications neither discuss what can be considered suitable nor explain how they turned into effective means to achieve expected outcomes. This study seeks strengthen extant theoretical core investigating through mixed methods comprising literature review, expert study, three case studies. The first contribution this it sheds light ambiguous interpretation in ontologically distinguishing between nonprinciples, as well deriving set (meta)principles. second connects nascent academic discourse studies conceptualizes “mechanics” value-creation process, where shape thereby realize Consequently, brings underserved, prescriptive aspect fore helps enrich foundations.