Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2.1 IT Maturity Models
Level
Maturity
Management
Architecture
4
Value
Information improves
business process and
cost recovery
Processes exist to resolve
strategic/tactical confl icts
3
Service
Capacity and service
levels managed
Standard architecture,
applied inconsistently
2
Proactive
Performance,
confi guration, and
change management
are automated
Architecture managed in
some business units
1
Reactive
Basic event response,
backup/recovery, and
help desk
Departmental-level
architectural management
0
Chaotic
No consolidation,
operations are left to
deployment staff
All decisions made in
isolation
Source:
Gartner Research.
Many different means can be used to measure the current state of
architectural guidance and management within an organization. Table
2.1 provides a simplified maturity model based on those offered by Gart-
ner Research. Far too many organizations operate at the lowest levels of
maturity, where decisions on architecture and implementation are miss-
ing altogether or function in chaos merely as reactions to the latest prob-
lem or need. Proactive effort and cost is generally far lower than reactive,
because reactive actions include resources necessary to undo what has
been done in addition to resources necessary to implement the new course
of action. Without a higher level of planning, coordination, and vision,
these organizations cannot take advantage of the true potential of their
IT resources.
The Architect
If a successful architecture can produce advantages, then what makes a
good architect? This question is tied closely to the job the CIO/chief archi-
tect must perform in order to effectively identify, strategize, and resolve