Opening Thoughts - Leading the Way
Enterprise architecture is one of those disciplines where there can be many paths to success. Top-down, bottom-up, project-driven, and grass-roots approaches can each yield modest progress. Long-term success, though, in my experience, results from applying multiple approaches, each complementing the others. While knowledge of these approaches and how to apply them is critical, the trait that above all distinguishes the winners from the others is leadership. Strong leadership identifies the paths, inspires participants, influences everyone else, navigates the barriers, leverages momentum, and makes success happen.
Success isn’t an accident or the result of good luck, but is the result of quality leadership. We at Architecture & Governance Magazine are celebrating the leaders among us by recognizing stand-out examples of best practices in enterprise architecture and governance through our first-ever Excellence in Leadership Awards. My editorial colleague, Jonas Lamis, begins this issue with his awards article on page 5, immediately followed by profiles of two of our winners. He also includes insights on how a broad cross-section of leaders achieved success, as gleaned from the results of our third annual A&G reader survey. We do hope that you will find a few traits and approaches to emulate.
To bookend our Leadership issue, Ira Grossman honors another EA Leader, Dick Burk, in the Last Word column. As chief architect of the Office of Management and Budget, Dick has been instrumental in advancing the focus on EA in the U.S. Government. I would be remiss if, from my private sector EA analyst perspective, I didn’t add my own thoughts to those of Dick’s government colleagues: “Dick has proven that no challenge is too big for a true leader, and the federal government is one big challenge. Through his vision, persistence, and passion and by guiding with a steady and seasoned hand, he has managed to rally the energy and culture of the federal EA community in the most positive way.”
I’d like to conclude these Opening Thoughts by taking a moment to thank you, our readers. A large portion of you regularly take the time to contribute to our surveys, attend our Web seminars, and share your ideas by e-mail and through articles offered for publication. Your feedback and contributions are a vital part of making this magazine what it is. As always, Jonas Lamis and I welcome your ideas and feedback. You can reach us at editor@ArchitectureandGovernance.com.
George S. Paras is the editor-in-chief of Architecture & Governance Magazine.
