Business Technology Strategy (BTS) Pillar

BTS is the set of skills that set us apart from the other stakeholders in any project. It is what makes us, as architects unique and necessary in the IT environment. While technology strategy development ranked high, knowledge and asset management ranked pretty low. Currently, institutional knowledge is lost when individuals leave and organization and reuse is very limited, leading to higher operating costs and constant second guessing about decisions made in the past. If we don’t remember and correct mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them.

BTS Capabilities

Business Fundamentals

The basic business structures and functions and the basic nature of running a business.

Strategy Development and Rationalization

The the partnership between the business architect and the technical architect relative to the creation of a business model that defines the principles, standards, structure, and dynamics of the  integrated business and technical strategic direction. The components of a sound architecture strategy and how to evaluate a business problem and identify an appropriate technology direction. Identifying, analyzing, and simulating market trends.

Industry Analysis

The foundations of business markets and how organizations function within them. The understanding to combine a particular business vertical with common trends in the technology sector. How to keep track of trends so technology and business skills are constantly improved.

Business Valuation

How and when to invest in particular technology directions and how to manage the overall portfolio of technology investments. Common techniques for proving the financial benefit of architecture choices and how to apply common financial evaluation techniques.

Investment Prioritization and Planning

Management of two different types of portfolio lifecycles – assets and projects – both of which are important to be planned and managed, but which require very different investment approaches.

Requirements Discovery and Constraints Analysis

Understanding business requirements with multiple strategic impacts and how such requirements and constraints are formed internally and externally. How to apply those constraints and requirements to their technology and business decisions. Understand and plan for technology capabilities of the current resources/environment. Best practices for ensuring the quality of the business requirements.

Compliance

Regulatory impacts to the organization and the design/solution being deployed, including audits, certifications, licensing, and general industry regulation types. The ability to articulate the regulatory requirements that drive design elements.

Architecture Methodologies and Frameworks

Strategic and tactical use of architecture methods and tools, including but not limited to business engineering, business process management, architecture frameworks, and similar technology in relation to business capabilities and design.

Risk Management

The modeling, management and mitigation of risks in the enterprise.