What is Enterprise Architecture: A Pragmatic Explanation

Enterprise Architecture has existed (in many forms) for a long time, and there are many experts around to educate others. Books and training courses abound.However, EA is currently at the same point in time, as Chemistry was when Chemists were Alchemists. So perhaps a better term for Enterprise Architecture is Enterprise Alchemy and a better term for Enterprise Architects is Enterprise Alchemists. (It is perhaps fitting that the acronym does not need to change!)The parallels between what EA claims and what alchemy claimed are intriguing.That may see flippant or a pathetic attempt at humour, however, in admitting that, as a profession, EA is about as mature as alchemy was hundreds of years ago, we have made the most important step of all.The first step.We have stopped being unconsciously incompetent and we are now concisely incompetent.Admitting that EA is as mature as Alchemy is big thing. Many people will not agree (mostly the Alchemists!). Many people have a vested interest in presenting themselves and their companies as experts even when their expertise just turns out to be whatever we think.The time has come for a change.The time has come for Enterprise Alchemy to grow up and Become Enterprise Architecture.This book presents a information to define Enterprise Architecture, and Architects in a Pragmatic fashion.It does not purport to be the end of the road.But it does try to be the beginning.