Enterprise Architecture

Abstract: In what has come to be known as Conway’s Law, Melvin Conway observed that the structure of a system reflects the organization that designed the system. What are the implications of this law for enterprise architecture? Those faced with the task of building enterprise architectures are likely to find information systems whose fuzzy boundaries and complex interconnections are matched by the organizations from which they came. Organizations find themselves very much aware of demands to align information technology investments and business objectives. So, what do you do when you find yourself in an architecture leadership role? An understanding of Conway’s Law can help make these efforts to align enterprise architecture more successful.