8. Phase C: Information Systems Architectures

Chapter Contents
8.1 Objectives | 8.2 Approach

This chapter describes the Information Systems Architectures for an architecture project, including the development of Data and Application Architectures.



Figure 8-1: Phase C: Information Systems Architectures

8.1 Objectives

The objectives of Phase C are to:

8.2 Approach

Phase C involves some combination of Data and Application Architecture, in either order. Advocates exist for both sequences. For example, Steven Spewak's Enterprise Architecture Planning (EAP) recommends a data-driven approach.

On the other hand, major applications systems - such as those for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), etc. - often provide a combination of technology infrastructure and business application logic, and some organizations take an application-driven approach, whereby they recognize certain key applications as forming the core underpinning of the mission-critical business processes, and take the implementation and integration of those core applications as the primary focus of architecture effort (the integration issues often constituting a major challenge).

Detailed descriptions for Phase C are given separately for each architecture domain:


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