Abstract
Enterprise Architecture (EA) as an area of interdisciplinary study relies on models, methods and theories of many disciplines. The article explores the linkage between the needs of enterprise problem domains, the evolution of domain specific disciplines, and the EA body of knowledge. A cybernetic view is presented in an attempt to explain the effects of an important driver of discipline development, namely the change in the complexity of application domains. For the EA discipline (EAD), as any other developing discipline, there should exist a commonly accepted terminology, allowing interdisciplinary theories to be stated, which in turn facilitate the creation of cross disciplinary models and methodologies. While there already exists a fundamental and generalised theory of EA, GERAM, it is a minimalist theory, not prescribing any particular reference models or any concrete methodology, thus there is a constant need to relate domain specific results to the generalised theory, whereupon the evolution of one needs to have impact on the other. In this article we treat the discipline-as-a-system, and use Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) to discuss three basic components of EAD as a viable system. A ‘co-evolution mechanisms’ for EAD is proposed, and a cybernetic model of co-evolution applied to EAD. We also discuss a cybernetic model of EAD using Checkland’s model for discipline development.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
IFIP-IFAC-Task-Force: GERAM: generalised enterprise reference architecture and methodology, Chapter 2, Version 1(3): 6–3 (1999) In: Bernus, P., Nemes. L., Schmidt, G. (eds.) Handbook of Enterprise Architecture, Springer, Heidelberg (2003)
ISO15704: Industrial automation systems - Requirements for enterprise-reference architectures and methodologies. Geneva: ISO TC184.SC5.WG1. Geneva, ISO TC184.SC5.WG1 (2000, Amd.2005)
ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010: Systems and software engineering – Architecture description, Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-intensive Systems. ISO/IEC JTC1/SC7/WG42 (2011)
DoDAF: DoD Architecture Framework Version 2.0, US DoD, Washington (2009)
TOGAF: TOGAF 1 – TOGAF 9.1 (Versions of the TOGAF Architecture Framework). Open Group (1999–2011)
Wiener, N.: Cybernetics or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine, (2nd Rev. Ed 1961). MIT Press, Cambridge (1948)
Ashby, W.R.: An Introduction to Cybernetics. Chapman & Hall, London (1956)
Beer, S.: Decision and Control: The Meaning of Operational Research and Management Cybernetics. Wiley, New York (1966)
Beer, S.: Diagnosing the System for Organizations. Wiley, New York (1985)
Boulding, K.E.: General systems theory-the skeleton of science. Manag. Sci. 2(3), 197–208 (1956)
von Bertalanffy, L.: General System Theory-Foundations and Developments. George Braziller, Inc., New York (1968)
Pask, G.: Conversation, Cognition and Learning. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1975)
Doumeingts, G.: La Methode GRAI [PhD Thesis]. Bordeaux, France: University of Bordeaux I (1984)
Doumeingts, G.: GIM, grain integrated methodology. In: Molina, A., Kusiak, A., Sanchez, J. (eds.) Handbook of Life Cycle Engineering, Models and Methodologies, pp. 227−288. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (1998)
Suh, N.P.: The Principles of Design. Oxford University Press, New York (1990)
Suh, N.P.: Axiomatic Design: Advances and Applications. Oxford University Press, New York (2001)
Suh, N.P.: Complexity: Theory and Applications. Oxford University Press, New York (2005)
Holland, J.H.: Complex adaptive systems. Daedalus 121(1), 17–30 (1992)
Gell-Mann, M.: Complex adaptive systems. In: Cowan, G.A., Pines, D., Meltzer, D. (eds.) Complexity: Metaphors, Models, and Reality, pp. 17−45. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1994)
Wooldridge, M., Jennings, N.R.: Intelligent agents: theory and practice. Knowl. Eng. Rev. 10(2), 115–152 (1995)
Wooldridge, M.J.: An Introduction to Multiagent Systems. Wiley, New York (2002)
Kensing, F., Simonsen, J., Bodker, K.: MUST: a method for participatory design. Hum. Comput. Interact. 13(2), 167–198 (1998)
Bødker, K., Kensing, F., Simonsen, J.: Participatory IT Design: Designing for Business and Workplace Realities. MIT Press, Cambridge (2004)
Hammer, M., Stanton, S.A.: The Reengineering Revolution: A handbook. Harper Business, New York (1995)
Ashby, W.R.: Design for a Brain: The Origin of Adaptive Behavior. Wiley, New York (1960)
Senge, P.M.: The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Book Review. Doubleday, New York (1993)
Nonaka, I., Takeuchi, H.: The Knowledge Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. Oxford University Press, New York (1995)
Beer, S.: The Heart of Enterprise: The Managerial Cybernetics of Organization. Wiley, New York (1979)
Beer, S.: Brain of the Firm, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York (1981)
Kandjani, H., Bernus, P.: Engineering self-designing enterprises as complex systems using extended axiomatic design theory. In: Proceedings of the 18th IFAC World Congr. Milan, Italy, IFAC Papers On Line, vol. 18(1), pp. 11943−11948. Elsevier, Amsterdam (2011)
Ashby, W.R.: Adaptiveness and equilibrium. Br. J. Psychiatry 86(362), 478–483 (1940)
Conant, R.C., Ashby, W.R.: Every good regulator of a system must be a model of that system. Int. J. Syst. Sci. 1(2), 89–97 (1970)
Geoghegan, M.C., Pangaro, P.: Design for a self-regenerating organisation. Int. J. Gen Syst 38(2), 155–173 (2009)
Umpleby, S.A.: Ross Ashby’s general theory of adaptive systems. Int. J. Gen Syst 38(2), 231–238 (2009)
Anderton, R.H., Checkland, P.B.: On learning our lessons, Internal Discussion Paper, Lancaster, UK, Department of Systems, University of Lancaster. 2/77 (1977)
Checkland, P.: Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. Wiley, Chichester (1996)
Industry-University Consortium, An Implementation Procedures Manual for Developing Master Plans for Computer Integrated Manufacturing. In: Williams, T.J. (ed.) Technical Report 155, Purdue Laboratory for Applied Industrial Control, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA (1992)
Bernus, P., Nemes, L., Williams, T.J. (eds): Architectures for Enterprise Integration, p. 368. Chapman and Hall, London (1996)
CIM Reference Model Committee: A reference model for computer integrated manufacturing from the point of view of industrial automation. Int. J. Comput. Integr. Manufact. 2(2), 114−127 (1989)
Williams, T.J.: The purdue enterprise reference architecture and methodology (PERA). Comput. Ind. 24(2−3), 141–158 (1994)
Bernus, P., Nemes, L.: A framework to define a generic enterprise reference architecture and methodology. In: Proceedings ICARV’96 4th International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision, vol. 3/3, pp. 88−92. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (1994)
Bernus, P., Nemes, L.: A framework to define a generic enterprise reference architecture and methodology. Comput. Integr. Manuf. Syst. 9(3), 179−191 (1996) (Elsevier, Amsterdam)
Zhou, M., Nemes, L., Shinonome, M., Hashimoto, H., Fuse, A., Bernus, P., Uppington, G.: A framework for design: a virtual manufacturing enterprise and its implementation. In: Mo, J. Kimura, F. (eds.) DIISM ‘98. IFIP TC5 WG.5.3/5.7 3rd International Working Conference on the Design of Information Infrastructure Systems for Manufacturing, pp. 339−343. Kluwer, Dordrecht (1998)
Vesterager, J., Bernus, P., Larsen, L.B., Pedersen, J.D., Tølle, M.: Use of GERAM as basis for a virtual enterprise framework model. In: Mo, J., Nemes, L. (eds.) Global Engineering, Manufacturing and Enterprise Networks (Proc DIISM2000), pp.75−82. Kluwer, Dordrecht (2000)
Tølle, M, Bernus, P.: Reference models supporting enterprise networks and virtual enterprises. Int. J. Networking Virtual Organ. 2(1), 2−15. Inderscience, Olney Bucks (2003)
Létray, Z., Bernus, P.: The link between the functional and physical structure in computer integrated manufacturing. In: Proceedings APMS/Compcontrol IV. Budapest: OMIKK-Technoinform, pp. 954−964 (1985)
Kalpic, B., Bernus, P.: Business process modelling through the knowledge management perspective. Int. J. Knowl. Manage. 10(3), 40–56 (2006)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Kandjani, H., Bernus, P. (2013). The Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge as an Evolving Discipline. In: Cordeiro, J., Maciaszek, L.A., Filipe, J. (eds) Enterprise Information Systems. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 141. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40654-6_27
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40654-6_27
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-40653-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-40654-6
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)