The power of integration for the dissemination of knowledge

Content contributor: Darryl Carr, Enterprise Architecture, JourneyOne

^Highlights

Post-event recap: First Enterprise Architecture Design Session – Department of Defence:

• The power of integration for the dissemination of knowledge.
• The importance of being able to verify information in a world where data is everywhere.
• The consequence of ineffective governance.
• The suitability of architecture frameworks in modern organisations.

On 4 March 2024, over 70 people gathered online for the first Enterprise Architecture (EA) Design webinar at the Department of Defence. The purpose of this event was to bring practitioners together to share knowledge and gain insights from external experts.

This webinar was the product of a collaboration between the Department’s Defence Digital Group (DDG), and the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), and brought together thought-leaders Tom Graves and Dr. Ed Lewis to discuss how an EA-based approach can result in better outcomes across an organisation.

Hosted by Dr. Vicki Gardner, ACS Canberra Branch Manager, the session was introduced by Jo Dawson, CASG Chief Systems Engineer, and facilitated by Darryl Carr, Consulting EA with JourneyOne and Editor of the Enterprise Architecture Professional Journal.

Starting with a summary of current activities in the global Architecture Community, Darryl Carr highlighted the work being done to bring practitioners together and address the needs of the profession. This included some great news about the formation of Women in Architecture (WIA) Australia as a step towards addressing the significant gender imbalance within the EA discipline.

This was followed by an insightful presentation by Tom Graves, entitled “Invisible Armies”. It highlighted the significance of a holistic view of how an organisation functions, both internally and across the broader ecosystem in which it operates. Drawing on Tom’s four decades of experience across multiple industries and geographies, the presentation identified the need for everyone involved in architecture and design activities to understand the importance of sharing information and knowledge, developing stronger relationships, and aligning to a shared purpose and vision.

Following Tom’s presentation, he was joined by Dr. Ed Lewis in an engaging Q&A session, taking questions from attendees that covered a broad range of topics, including:

• The power of integration for the dissemination of knowledge.
• The importance of being able to verify information in a world where data is everywhere.
• The consequence of ineffective governance.
• EA as a Quality function to support effectiveness in organisations to deliver their purpose.
• Storytelling to help engage people in a shared mission.
• The overlaps and demarcation between the various disciplines that have analysis, design and architecture responsibilities.
  
• How to retain knowledge in your organisation during times of change, sometimes across generations.
• The variable suitability of architecture frameworks in modern organisations.

Finally, we heard from Dr. Vicki Gardiner on what’s happening in the Canberra Branch of the ACS, and about the ACS’ purpose of powering Australia’s technology sector for greater impact across industry through knowledge, connections and recognition.

Thanks also to Dr Anna Yang from the Digital Architecture and Strategy Branch at DDG, as the powerhouse who brought this event together.  We are looking forward to many more of these discussions in the future sessions.

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