Title: A decision-making approach for enterprise architecture evolution using simulation

Authors: Sérgio Guerreiro; Khaled Gaaloul

Addresses: Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal; INESC-ID, Rua Alves Redol 9, 1000-029 Lisbon, Portugal ' Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Abstract: Enterprise architecture (EA) is a discipline that provides management with appropriate indicators and controls to steer and model the enterprise during change. However, the management of such change is a challenging task for enterprise architects due to the complex dependencies amongst EA models when evolving from initial (As-is) to posterior (To-be) states. We present an approach supporting design decision during EA evolution, by assisting enterprise architects in computing best alternatives to a posterior state. In doing so, we model EA artefacts dependencies and identify their evolution during change. This model is, then, processed using a control schema to inform EA design decisions. Further, we rationalise on design decision by computing EA models alternatives, using Markov theory. Finally, we evaluate this decision-making approach using a motivating example by simulating a stochastic solution in order to argue about the usefulness and applicability of our proposal.

Keywords: enterprise architecture; evolution; design decision; simulation; Markov theories.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2019.102410

International Journal of Operational Research, 2019 Vol.36 No.2, pp.188 - 208

Received: 24 Feb 2016
Accepted: 12 Nov 2016
Published online: 24 Sep 2019 *

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