Richard Thaler, winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, once said, "You want to nudge people to make it easier for them to make the choice that you think they will be happier with." In the realm of Enterprise Architecture, this translates to creating seamless systems—for operational effectiveness and efficient decision-making. A methodology that embodies this principle is The Open Group Architecture Framework, or TOGAF—a widely accepted method, recognized globally for Enterprise Architecture.

TOGAF is a framework designed to aid organizations in the development of Technology Strategy, Innovation, Operational Excellence, and Business Transformation by designing, implementing, and managing their enterprise architecture—an abstract blueprint that defines the structure and operation of an organization. Accenture research found that organizations which effectively utilize enterprise architecture frameworks like TOGAF experienced a 33% decrease in system development costs, and a 37% reduction in time to market.

For effective implementation, take a look at these TOGAF best practices:

• TOGAF 9.1 Training Foundation Level (286-slide PowerPoint deck)
• TOGAF - Implementation Toolkit (Excel workbook and supporting ZIP)
• TOGAF Unlocked (the missing pieces): Deliver Business Value with IT! - Design, Build and Run Effective IT Strategy execution to business needs (223-page PDF document)
• TOGAF Unlocked (the missing pieces): Deliver Business Value with IT! - Logics for IT Sourcing (Internal, Shared service center, Out, Cloud) (129-page PDF document)
• TOGAF Unlocked (the missing pieces): Deliver Business Value with IT! - Run - Aligned to described ITIL activities and processes with a Service Strategy (155-page PDF document)

Key Principles of TOGAF

The four core domains of TOGAF—business, application, data, and technology—are central to understanding its operational functionality. McKinsey Quarterly explains these domains as the pillars upon which enterprise architecture stands; neglecting one can lead to systematic failure.

• Business architecture is the company’s strategic perspective, including its structure and operational process design.
• Application architecture provides a blueprint for deploying applications across the organization.
• Data architecture represents the data stored, managed, and utilized across the organization.
• Technology architecture elucidates the hardware and software infrastructure that supports the organization and its strategy.

Explore related management topics: Process Design

The Benefits of Adopting TOGAF

Most Fortune 500 companies have embraced TOGAF due to its unique, flexible approach to enterprise architecture. A 2020 survey conducted by Gartner indicates an impressive 80% of the largest global organizations using TOGAF as their go-to enterprise architecture method.

Bain Consulting identified few distinct advantages of TOGAF:

• Improved efficiency: TOGAF’s iterative and agile nature leads to continuous process improvement and a quick response to change—a key factor in Digital Transformation.
• Reduced risk: Standardized methods and terminologies promote clear communication, reducing the complexity and associated risks within the organization.
• Strategic alignment: The framework ensures that IT spending is tightly tied to business priorities, yielding a higher return on investment.

Explore related management topics: Digital Transformation Process Improvement Agile Return on Investment

Implementing TOGAF—Best Practices

Incorporating TOGAF isn’t merely about adoption—it’s about getting it right. Deloitte advises incorporating the following practices for successful TOGAF implementation:

1. Start small, but think big. Consider the larger picture, but commence implementation in manageable portions.
2. Routine stakeholder management. Ensure continuous, consistent communication with all stakeholders.
3. Embrace iteration. The TOGAF ADM Cycle is iterative. It doesn’t aim at perfection in the first cycle.
4. Rolling wave planning. This involves detail planning activities that are near-term, with a broader view of future activities.

Embracing TOGAF requires an end-to-end reconceptualization of how the business uses technology. However, once correctly implemented, it has the potential to drive unparalleled Operational Excellence and strategic alignment in an organization. In the digital economy, where technology is core to competitiveness, companies cannot afford to fall behind in efficient and effective utilization of enterprise architecture.

Explore related management topics: Stakeholder Management