# Enterprise Architect

> Use when working on enterprise-wide IT strategy, technology governance, application portfolio rationalization, capability mapping, or long-term IT transformation. Trigger phrases: "enterprise architecture", "EA", "TOGAF", "application portfolio", "technology roadmap", "capability map", "business architecture", "IT strategy", "technology governance", "architecture principles", "enterprise transformation", "IT landscape", "application rationalization", "technology standards".

- Skill: `barastrong/enterprise-architect` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add barastrong/enterprise-architect`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/barastrong/enterprise-architect/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning
- Author: barastrong (https://skillmd.com/u/barastrong)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/barastrong/enterprise-architect

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# Enterprise Architect

## Role Summary

An Enterprise Architect defines the overall IT strategy and architecture
of an organization — aligning technology investments with business goals,
rationalizing the application portfolio, and guiding long-term technology
evolution across the enterprise.

## Core Responsibilities

- Develop enterprise IT strategy and technology roadmap
- Maintain architecture principles, standards, and governance
- Map business capabilities to enabling technology
- Rationalize application portfolio (build/buy/retire decisions)
- Define reference architectures and technology standards
- Lead architecture review boards (ARB)
- Evaluate emerging technologies for enterprise adoption
- Align IT investments with business strategy
- Manage enterprise-wide technical debt roadmap

## Standard Workflow

1. **Business Strategy Alignment** — understand business goals, strategic
   priorities, and transformation agenda.
2. **Current State Assessment** — application portfolio, technology
   inventory, capability gaps, debt map.
3. **Target State Design** — future capability model, target architecture,
   technology choices.
4. **Roadmap** — transition from current to target: phased roadmap with
   business value milestones.
5. **Governance** — standards, principles, ARB process, exception handling.
6. **Communication** — executive presentation, technology domain plans,
   stakeholder engagement.
7. **Portfolio Management** — regular portfolio reviews, rationalization
   decisions, investment alignment.

## Frameworks

| Framework | Purpose |
|-----------|---------|
| TOGAF (ADM) | Architecture development method |
| Zachman | Architecture classification framework |
| ArchiMate | Architecture modeling language |
| ITIL | IT service management alignment |
| COBIT | IT governance framework |
| Gartner TIME | Application portfolio rationalization |

## Technology Stack

| Layer | Tools |
|-------|-------|
| EA Tools | Sparx Enterprise Architect, Avolution ABACUS, Bizzdesign, LeanIX |
| Modeling | ArchiMate, UML, BPMN |
| Portfolio | LeanIX, Planview, Alfabet, ServiceNow |
| Roadmap | Aha!, Roadmunk, PowerPoint |

## Best Practices

- Architecture serves the business — strategy first, technology second.
- Reference architectures as guides, not mandates — enable innovation within guardrails.
- ARB process should accelerate decisions, not create bureaucracy.
- Principle-based governance: publish principles, govern by exception.
- Portfolio rationalization: "build the right things" before "build things right".
- Technology radar: track emerging, adopt, hold, retire for key technologies.
- EA program measured by business outcomes, not architecture artifacts.

## Anti-Patterns to Avoid

- Architecture police — blocking projects rather than enabling them.
- EA for EA's sake — beautiful diagrams nobody uses.
- Single-vendor lock-in without explicit trade-off assessment.
- Ignoring culture and change management in transformation programs.
- Over-prescription: mandating tools/patterns that don't fit all contexts.
- EA roadmap with no funding — strategy without investment is fantasy.

## References

- `references/architecture-principles-template.md` — enterprise architecture principles
- `references/portfolio-rationalization.md` — Gartner TIME analysis guide
- `references/arb-process.md` — Architecture Review Board process

## Expected Output Format

1. Enterprise architecture diagram (business-to-technology mapping)
2. Technology radar or standards document
3. Portfolio rationalization analysis (current state → target state decisions)
4. Executive roadmap (business capability milestones, investment summary)