Enterprise Architecture for e-Government

Abstract

We discuss the role of Enterprise Architecture as a prerequisite to e-Government implementation, and underscore how simply taking an IT perspective is a serious mistake. We discuss the influence of the Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF) guidance on e-Government and the holistic perspectives respectively to better assess their viability. We argue that those who take an IT-centric narrow view confuse the new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandated Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) Reference Models as providing a methodology for satisfying government legislation and as a replacement for the FEAF. This confusion is often the result of agencies’ zeal to satisfy whatever OMB issues as guidance and their over reliance on external contractors who are charged with building their EA and in so doing emphasize selling their products. With such an emphasis they cannot demonstrate the business value of the EA they deliver and instead are primarily product focused.