FEA

Which Is Harder: Blueprinting Manhattan or Building an Enterprise Architecture? Well, It Depends.   To reinvent themselves, support their missions, and improve upon day-to-day operations, government organizations are actively pursuing business transformation. This is no trivial undertaking for government agencies with complex enterprises, hundreds of business processes, and thousands of systems. To ensure compliance with regulations, save money by avoiding redundant systems, and simplify business processes, agencies are codifying their enterprise architecture.

Richard (Dick) Burk recently announced his retirement from the federal government after three years as chief architect at the Office of Management and Budget and thirty-five years of dedicated service to the federal government. The development and advancement of the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) that began under Bob Haycock’s leadership, accelerated under Dick’s guidance. Today, the FEA is not just used by the federal government but by six nations and three states. The FEA has become a world class standard for EA.

Whether implementing a common portal solution for a group of trade associations or helping city government agencies pool resources to implement enterprise solutions, one thing is clear: there are myths that must be exposed and clarity needed around the drivers for “success” in the “not-for-profit” and government workplace. These issues must be resolved before such organizations can achieve their potential through the use of business-driven metrics.

You think you have a tough job - how about taking care of the health of all Americans, from infant to elderly? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is an operating division of the Department of Health and Human Services with 10,000 employees. Their mission? To ensure that all foods, drugs, and cosmetics are safe and properly labeled; that drugs and medical devices are safe and effective; that the American blood supply is safe and adequate; and finally that equipment that uses radiant energy, such as X-ray machines, is safe. Whew.