EA Framework defines the scope of architecture and how the areas of the architecture relate to each other.
From the definitions above, we could tell that EA methodology includes EA framework. We need to analyze the architecture comprehensively with the help of EA methodology. EA framework is a part of that we used for analysis.
The framework we used for the "Flowers4all" is EA Cube.
EA cube offers a comprehensive way of analyzing the whole architecture of the organization from the technology, business and strategy.
After the analysis and amelioration, we could achieve the situation as following:
From the case of "Flowers4all", we could analyze the whole organization through the following way:
Technology:
The company should ameliorate its technology through the following aspects:
·
Services
o
Various web services: the web services are mainly the service the
system could provide to the users
§
Users could set the orders
§
Users could get the data from the website
o
Office automation services: the service provided by the office
automatically
§
The account could be saved automatically
§
The inventory could be edited automatically
o
Software applications: the software applications provided by the
system
§
The orders setting application
§
The orders checking application
·
Networks
o
Associated cable plants
§
We should ensure internet access for Flowers4all employees
§
Dial-up, telecommunication capabilities
o
Equipment facilities
§
All the equipment should be maintained in the certain time to
ensure availablility in use
·
Vertical threads
o
IT security information
§
The system should be maintain safety
o
IT standards
§
The system should apply the IT standards
o
IT workforce information
§
The system should have the certain IT workforce to maintain and
update it
Business:
The company could improve its business in the following ways:
·
Line-of-business
o Integrate the lines of business
§ Build a more consolidate connection for all the business lines
§ Increase supply and manufacturing division
§ Increase nursery products division
o
associated measures: extra measures affiliated with the above
line-of-business
§ Further extend its business lines.
Strategy:
The company could improve its strategy in the following ways:
·
Strategy
o
The Flowers4all’s strategic goals: The strategic goal for the
Flowers4all is to extend its business into different fields and different places
in the world by acquisition. In detail, the Flowers4all has the following
strategic goals to accomplish:
§
To extend the Flowers4all network to all employees
§
To create central information stores and applications
§
To give all employees electronic mail
§
To distribute corporate-wide information
o
Activities: The Flowers4all has processed a lot of activities to
achieve its strategic goals, including
§
The company contracted with two European nurseries, in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands, and Seville, Spain, to provide exotic flower varieties.
§
In early 1990, the chain incorporated and offered ownership shares
on the stock market. Using the money from selling stock, the company purchased
all three nurseries in 1988 and set up distribution procedures, which
effectively turned the nurseries into supply and distribution centers.
§
Also in 1990S, the company opened retail shops in upscale malls
instead of purchasing existing florists.
§
In 1993, Flowers4all began selling flowers internationally. The
cooperation formalized the setup of supply and distribution centers in
Amsterdam and Seville by purchasing office space near the supply farms.
§
More U.S. distribution centers were purchased in Dallas, Texas and
Boston, Massachusetts.
§
Now, the company’s business could be divided and concluded as
Retail Services, Supply and Manufacturing, and Nursery Products.
o
Outcome measures: The Flowers4all, although very successful, has
got several problems.
§
The system is not efficiency
§
The different lines of business lack of consistency
§
The data needs to be standardized and integrate
§
The cost should be reduced
With the help of EA Cube, I could apply such comprehensive analysis for the "Flowers4all", thus help the company.
refer: the pictures are from http://eapad.dk/ea3-cube/overview/
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