Leveraging Organizational Performance Through Enterprise Business Architecture

Abstract

Enterprise architecture is a conceptual IS architecture and management framework used to describe and organize and control an organization’s IS/IT structure, processes, applications, systems and techniques in an integrated and cohesive way. The IS framework helps organizations to achieve strategic alignment and consequently creates a business value to the organization and its shareholders and stakeholders. This thesis presents a qualitative research study addressing the concepts of enterprise architecture, enterprise business architecture, strategic alignment, organizational performance and business value / business benefits. Based upon the literature, the concepts of enterprise business architecture, business value and investment have been identified, and an analytical study of the well-known enterprise architecture frameworks has been demonstrated. It investigates the link between the IS/IT investment and organizational performance. This perspective is developed theoretically and illustrated empirically with a research framework that has been developed, and supported with empirical data from two big international organizations use IS/IT extensively to support their business practices. The empirical data from the two organizations are presented and analyzed, and research framework has been empirically verified. The result of the study shows that IS/IT facilitates significant growth in productivity and gains in profitability, and creates business value to the organization and consequently satisfies its customers, shareholders and stakeholders.