Enterprise and business architecture STPL

Aligning an organisation's technology strategy with its business mission, strategy and processes and documenting this using architectural models.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions).
Content and/or readability changes have been made to levels 5, 6, and 7.
You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Enterprise architecture is typically considered across four domains: business, data, applications and infrastructure technologies. It may also include information security or legal and regulatory compliance.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

translating business strategies and objectives into an operating model
assessing current capabilities and identifying required changes to achieve objectives
developing and maintaining roadmaps to guide the transition from the current state to the future state
describing the interrelationships between people, organisation, services, processes, data, information, technology and the external environment
creating, iterating and maintaining architectural models and views that embody key principles for the organisation's future state and evolution
implementing enterprise architecture working practices to support and enable iterative/agile working
interpreting business goals and drivers
documenting and communicating constraints, standards and guiding principles necessary to define, assure and govern the required evolution
using architectural models and processes to facilitate changes in the organisation's structure, business processes, information or data, business systems and infrastructure
describing where and why the enterprise will benefit from cloud-based services.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...

Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.

Where higher levels are not defined...

Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities

Where higher levels are not defined...

You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Click to learn why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

Level 1

Level 1 - Follow: Essence of the level: Performs routine tasks under close supervision, follows instructions, and requires guidance to complete their work. Learns and applies basic skills and knowledge.

Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Enterprise and business architecture: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Develops models and plans to drive the execution of the business strategy, taking advantage of opportunities to improve business performance.

Contributes to creating and reviewing a systems capability strategy which meets the business's strategic requirements.

Creates and maintains roadmaps to guide the execution of business strategy and capability improvements.

Determines requirements and specifies effective business processes, through improvements in technology, information or data practices, organisation, roles, procedures and equipment.

Enterprise and business architecture: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Develops enterprise-wide architecture and processes to embed strategic change management within the organisation.

Leads the creation and review of a systems capability strategy aligned with business requirements. Develops roadmaps for enterprise architecture and initiatives, ensuring stakeholder buy-in.

Captures and prioritises market and environmental trends, business strategies and objectives, identifying alternative strategies. Develops business cases for approval, funding and prioritisation of high-level initiatives.

Sets strategies, policies, standards and practices to ensure compliance between business strategies, technology strategies and enterprise transformation activities.

Enterprise and business architecture: Level 7

Level 7 - Set strategy, inspire, mobilise: Essence of the level: Operates at the highest organisational level, determines overall organisational vision and strategy, and assumes accountability for overall success.

Directs the development of enterprise-wide architecture and processes to embed the strategic application of change in the management of the organisation.

Directs the creation and review of an enterprise capability strategy to support the strategic requirements of the business. Oversees the creation and implementation of roadmaps to guide long-term enterprise transformation and strategic alignment.

Identifies the business benefits of alternative strategies.

Ensures compliance between business strategies, enterprise transformation activities and technology directions, setting strategies, policies, standards and practices.

Small change