If you work for an existing enterprise that has processes and systems in place, you don’t need to create an enterprise architecture. You need to understand the one you already have.
The primary reason Enterprise Architecture programs fail is because the Architects are focused on something other than the reality of the business today. Business Leaders are fine with strategic planning but they are more interested in running the business day-to-day so they can survive to the future. Many Architects appear to want to create a “big bang” project to introduce a new future state. Business Leaders understand there is less risk in morphing a business from its current state to a future state.
An Enterprise Architecture plan certainly is concerned with moving the enterprise to a future state. But in order to be successful, it is equally important to completely understand the enterprise’s current state. Think of the plan as a roadmap to the future. Think of your understanding of the current state as being the sign post – “You Are Here”.