As someone new to the field of Enterprise Architecture (EA), transitioning from a core solutions and technical architecture background, I quickly realized how different and strategic EA is compared to my previous role. In my previous role as a technical architect, I focused on designing and implementing specific solutions, but EA required a broader view—aligning IT systems with business strategies and managing the entire IT landscape.
To make this transition smoother, I began by obtaining my TOGAF EA Foundation certification, which provided me with a solid framework and understanding of the principles, methodologies, and processes behind Enterprise Architecture. Shortly after, I pursued LeanIX certification to gain hands-on knowledge in a platform that could help me manage, model, and optimize our IT landscape in line with business goals.
In this blog, I’ll share how my background as a technical architect, bolstered by TOGAF EA Foundation certification and LeanIX certification, helped me successfully navigate the world of Enterprise Architecture, and how LeanIX became a powerful tool in my journey.
What is LeanIX?
LeanIX is an advanced Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) tool designed to help EA professionals model, visualize, and manage their organization’s IT architecture in alignment with business needs. Coming from a technical architecture background, I was used to focusing on individual systems and solutions. However, LeanIX allowed me to see the bigger picture of how all IT components are interconnected and how they align with the organization’s long-term business strategy.
After getting certified, I was ready to dive deeper into how LeanIX could help me structure our architecture models. The certification gave me a solid foundation in the platform’s capabilities and prepared me to leverage it fully.
Why LeanIX for Enterprise Architecture?
Having transitioned from a core solutions and technical architect role, I was looking for a tool that could:
- Centralize IT Information: As a technical architect, I was used to working with isolated systems. In EA, I needed to connect the dots between various IT components, so a centralized platform like LeanIX was perfect for organizing everything.
- Foster Collaboration: In my previous role, I primarily collaborated with developers and technical teams. EA, however, requires collaboration with business stakeholders, so I needed a tool that could bridge the gap between IT and business.
- Simplify Risk Management: As a technical architect, I often worked on the specifics of individual systems. EA, on the other hand, required me to assess the health of our entire IT landscape. LeanIX helped me identify risks and technical debt, ensuring our systems were aligned with the overall business strategy.
LeanIX helped me see the bigger picture, understand the relationships between IT components, and build a clear strategy for future improvements.
For example, in the chemical industry use case, I was able to assess the organization’s global supply chain management system, integrating various business units such as production, procurement, and distribution, to ensure seamless collaboration across different regions and processes. This level of integration was key to improving the overall strategy.
Step 1: Defining the IT Landscape
As someone new to EA, one of my first tasks was to understand the current state of our IT architecture. LeanIX made it simple to define and visualize our entire IT landscape. Using the platform, I could create models of our business capabilities, applications, data flows, and technologies.
In the demo leading chemical industry use case, I began by defining the core business processes that were critical for the company’s success, such as supply chain management, production scheduling, and inventory management. The Application Portfolio feature was particularly valuable for understanding the relationships between applications and how they contributed to these critical business processes. I could easily categorize and assess applications, helping me identify redundancies and areas where we could improve efficiency.
- Example: I mapped out how the Global ERP System interacted with other core business applications like procurement management, inventory management, and quality control systems. This helped identify redundant applications that could be consolidated, which contributed to reducing overall costs.
Step 2: Mapping Business Capabilities
A significant shift in my thinking, after my TOGAF certification, was realizing the importance of mapping business capabilities to the IT systems that support them. As a technical architect, I was focused on technology, but as Enterprise Architect, I needed to understand how IT systems drive business outcomes.
In LeanIX, I could easily map business capabilities to their respective supporting applications and technologies. This allowed me to understand how each piece of the IT landscape contributed to business objectives, and where improvements were needed.
For example, in the chemical industry use case, mapping capabilities such as Order Management and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) to applications such as SAP S/4HANA and PLM solutions enabled me to understand the strengths and weaknesses in current operations.
- Example: I mapped the Supply Chain Optimization business capability to the SAP S/4HANA and its integration with production and logistics. This process helped identify areas where improvements could be made, such as streamlining inventory tracking and improving demand forecasting.
Step 3: Assessing Risks and Technical Debt
In my previous technical role, I focused on specific applications and troubleshooting technical issues. However, after diving into Enterprise Architecture, I realized the importance of assessing risks and technical debt across the entire IT ecosystem. LeanIX’s Risk and Health Dashboard became a crucial tool in helping me prioritize these areas.
In the chemical industry use case, I focused on assessing the risk of outdated systems and fragmented data across multiple geographies, which could lead to inefficiencies in global supply chain management. The dashboard provided me with a comprehensive view of where risks existed in our applications, whether it was due to outdated technology, insufficient integrations, or lack of alignment with business needs. With my combined knowledge from EA and LeanIX, I could assess the entire landscape from a strategic perspective.
- Example: I discovered that several legacy supply chain systems were still in use, which posed risks for scalability and integration with newer technologies. LeanIX helped me prioritize these systems for modernization and integration with cloud-based solutions.
Step 4: Creating a Roadmap for the Future
As EA, creating a strategic roadmap for IT transitions was an exciting challenge. I needed to think long-term about how our IT systems would evolve. LeanIX provided the perfect platform to model future states of our IT landscape.
LeanIX’s roadmap feature allowed me to apply these principles and visualize how we would transition from legacy systems to modern, scalable solutions.
For example, in the chemical industry use case, I created a roadmap for the transition from on-premise, legacy SAP systems to cloud-based solutions to improve scalability and integration with other digital platforms. This migration plan was mapped out over several years, taking into account business priorities and resource availability.
- Example: I planned the migration of inventory management systems to a cloud-based platform, ensuring a seamless transition without disrupting ongoing operations. This roadmap outlined clear milestones and timelines for upgrading systems across global locations.
Step 5: Collaborating Across Teams
A significant shift in my role from technical architect to Enterprise Architect was the need for collaboration across different departments and teams. LeanIX made it easier to communicate and collaborate with both IT and business stakeholders.
For example, in the chemical industry use case, I might work with business leaders from procurement, sales, and manufacturing to review and refine the IT architecture, ensuring it aligned with their operational goals and business needs.
- Example: I could collaborate with the procurement team to ensure that the supply chain management system supported their requirements, while also working with the sales and production teams to ensure the integration of order fulfillment and production scheduling was optimized for better cross-functional collaboration.
Key Features I Found Useful as a New LeanIX User After Certification:
- Application Portfolio Management (APM): Helped me organize and assess the health of our IT applications across the organization, especially for supply chain and inventory management systems.
- Business Capability Mapping: Allowed me to align key business processes like order management and production planning with their supporting technologies.
- Risk and Health Dashboard: Provided a comprehensive view of risks and technical debt across the IT landscape, particularly for legacy systems in the global supply chain.
- Roadmap Creation: Enabled me to create a strategic roadmap for transitioning legacy systems to more modern, cloud-based solutions.
- Collaboration and Sharing: Simplified communication and alignment across various teams, especially when it came to procurement, manufacturing, and IT operations.
My Thoughts
As a first-time user, I found LeanIX to be an incredibly intuitive and powerful tool for enterprise architecture modeling. It provided the structure, tools, and insights I needed to understand our IT landscape better, identify areas for improvement, and align our technology with the broader business strategy.
With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, LeanIX will help you take your enterprise architecture practice to the next level. Whether you're documenting your current state, planning for the future, or identifying risks and opportunities, LeanIX is a game-changer for anyone starting out in the field of Enterprise Architecture.
