IT Architecturing: Reconceptualizing Current Notions of Architecture in IS Research

The concept of architecture in relation to information systems research and practice is ambiguous and lacks a common agreed upon definition that combines the different areas of use. This paper investigates the origins of the concept and some of its common uses and conceptions. It is argued that the different conceptualizations of architecture are treated in an unreflectived manner and the effect hereof is a lacking understanding of IT. As an alternative this paper introduces the notion of sensemaking as a theoretical lens to understand the commonality of various conceptualizations of architecture and shift the focus from the architecture to the architect.