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Enterprise Data Architecture services
Miley Watts & Associates offers a full Enterprise Data Architecture service - it is the core of our business and is something that we think we do very well.
We are not replacements for your existing Enterprise Architecture function but rather see ourselves working alongside existing Enterprise Architects (who already know the details of the business) as a resource to help with developing the strategic vision and help with specific problems that need to be solved to achieve the vision.
If, however, you don't feel that a "heavyweight" framework is suitable for your plans then you can leverage our Content Forms Framework and our Distributed Data Architecture, developed through our long track record architecting highly distributed data environments, that provides both high-level principles to govern the Enterprise Data Architecture and detailed specifications for key components. Within these frameworks we offer a full architecture service covering all aspects of the Analysis and Design activities that may be required to shape the data architecture and govern future applications of it.
The pre-requisite to producing any type of IT Architecture is Business Analysis –defining what needs to be achieved - and our analysis expertise covers the full range from drafting a "Statement of Requirements" through to Business Process Analysis, Data & Information Modelling, Data Flow Analysis or full Functional & Technical Specifications.
We are familiar with most methodologies such as Structured Systems Analysis & Design (SSADM), Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) and the Unified Modelling Language (UML) but, as with our approach to Architectural Frameworks, we also take a pick and mix approach to the techniques we use for analysis and use whatever is most appropriate for the environment e.g. Data Flow Diagrams are best for modelling bulk data movements, wire-frames for user-interfaces and swin-lanes for transactional models.
Once the analysis has been completed we generally follow a patterns based approach to design and as a result of the focus on the data rather than technology we have experience with many of the data-focussed design paradigms that are prevalent nowadays.
In many cases, as early adopters of emerging trends we are better positioned than most to fully leverage the potential capability of adopting these approaches. However theoretical knowledge is all well and good but the essential requirement of any Architecture or Design activity is being able to turn it into a fully realised operational capability which requires something more than just technical ability. We are not professional project managers who will manage the day-to-day running of a programme but we can certainly assist with the planning and governance of a programme and provide advice during the implementation phase to ensure that the architectural vision is realised as planned. Sometimes, of course, this may involve having to make a short-term divergence from the strategic vision in order to produce business benefits as early as possible with a planned convergence taking place in a later phase of the programme. We recognise this as an unavoidable facet of Enterprise Data Architecture where the implementation may actually take years to be fully developed In any engagement we always expect to fully support our clients past the initial Architecture & Design phase. Even if this does not require a full-time involvement we will always be available to assist – our Ad-Hoc Advisory Services describes some of the ways that we provide “on-demand” consultancy
As a result we have only had positive feedback from all of our clients regarding the quality and thoroughness of our Architecture & Design work. |
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Although we don’t religiously adhere to any particular Architectural Framework we are familiar with both the TOGAF and Zachman Enterprise Frameworks and can apply either depending on the type of engagement - we believe that TOGAF is better suited to re-engineering existing data environments where legacy applications must be supported and Zachman is better suited to new enterprise initiatives.
Our Content Forms Framework in particular has been developed over a number of years to provide a design framework for any data-focussed environment designed and provides an underpinning for all of the following current trends.:
