A Framework to Support Business-it Alignment in Enterprise Architecture Decision Making

Features of current business environment are quarterly economy, organizational changes (e.g. mergers, acquisitions, structural changes, outsourcing), pressures for business-IT alignment, cost-effectiveness, changes and improvements in technologies and practices (e.g. service-oriented architecture).The rapidly changing environment all organisations must operate creates a situation where an architecture approach such as an enterprise architecture (EA) is seen as an imperative to success (Ashmore et al., 2004). Architecture helps in achieving essential business objectives. Furthermore, a good architecture shows the relation of the architectural decisions to the business objectives of the enterprise (Lankhorst et al. 2005). IFEAD has investigated why enterprise architecture is important for companies (IFEAD, 2005). Expected benefits of EA approach are that EA delivers insight and overview of business and IT, it is helpful in mergers and acquisitions. EA supports out-/insourcing and systems development as well as manages IT portfolio and delivers roadmaps for change. In addition, EA is expected to assist in decision making, managing complexity, and in business as well as IT budget prioritization.