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Inf Syst Front (2006) 8:91102DOI 10.1007/s10796-006-7973-zBusiness architecture: A new paradigm to relate business
strategy to ICTGerrit Versteeg Harry BouwmanSpringer Science + Business Media, LLC 2006Abstract In this paper we address the concept of business architecture. We explain the concept and, based on a case study,
discuss its relevance, operation, relationship with strategy
and business models, and value for an organization. We also
shortly discuss the approach that was taken to create the business architecture; how it was based on and derived from the
business strategy. Business architectures contribute to clarify the complexity within an organization and form a useful
starting point from which to develop subsequent functional,
information, process and application architectures. We clarify these relationships through an architecture linkage model.
Having an explicit business architecture also helps to structure the responsibilities within an organization, and to shape
outsourcing activities, within the primary process as well as
with regard to ICT-support. Business architectures contribute
to an adequate ICT-governance in order to orchestrate the
resources for critical business activities and how to manage
the development and support for e-business efficiently.Keywords Business architecture . e-business . Information
systems . Shared service centers . Architecture linkage
model . Architecture framework . Demand organization .
Outsourcing . Business strategyC1. IntroductionOrganizations are hampered in their response to changes in
the environment due to the existence of organizational stovepipes and legacy systems. There are many reasons why the
tendency to think in terms of architectures showed a marked
increase in the period when the Internet emerged as a disruptive technology. The Internet makes a number of new business models possible (Timmers, 1999; Bouwman and Van
den Ham, 2003). The limited life span of these models implicates that organization, information and IT have to be flexible
in order to respond quickly to changing circumstances and
to adapt the business model if necessary. Business strategies
that utilize the possibilities offered by Internet and ICT to
the fullest are hard to implement however. A critical assessment of the internal processes in many organizations shows
a substantial level of redundancy and rigidity, while business
processes are usually organized in (often product-oriented)
stove-pipes (Van Diepen, 2000). Due to this rigid organization, companies are unable to meet customer demands,
coordinate processes and offer the painfully needed transparency....