Comments on: Gartner’s Emergent Architecture – Is this really a new approach?

By: Leo de Sousa

Leo de Sousa — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:14:40 +0000

John, thank you for the insight. I will take a look at the links you provided. Interestingly enough, my BSc was in the field of Biology and perhaps that grounding has been an unconscious influence on my thinking about Enterprise Architecture as an ecosystem.

All the best, Leo

By: John Wu

John Wu — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:12:20 +0000

From the aspect of complexity science. this approach does make sense. I have developed the Light Enterprise Archtiecture from a very grass root approach without knowing the complexity science. Recently, I have encounterd the complexity science and realized that I have walked into the paradigm of a complex adaptive system. I believe this is also why the Gartner Group make the move.

Enterprise is a complex adaptive system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_adaptive_system

Wikipeida describe as ” The term complex adaptive systems, or complexity science, is often used to describe the loosely organized academic field that has grown up around the study of such systems. Complexity science is not a single theory— it encompasses more than one theoretical framework and is highly interdisciplinary, seeking the answers to some fundamental questions about living, adaptable, changeable systems.

Examples of complex adaptive systems include the stock market, social insect and ant colonies, the biosphere and the ecosystem, the brain and the immune system, the cell and the developing embryo, manufacturing businesses and any human social group-based endeavour in a cultural and social system such as political parties or communities. There are close relationships between the field of CAS and artificial life. In both areas the principles of emergence and self-organization are very important.

The ideas and models of CAS are essentially evolutionary, grounded in modern biological views on adaptation and evolution. The theory of complex adaptive systems bridges developments of systems theory with the ideas of generalized Darwinism, which suggests that Darwinian principles of evolution can explain a range of complex material phenomena, from cosmic to social objects. ”

Enterprise is a complex adaptive system

http://www.capgemini.com/ctoblog/2010/05/complicated_or_complex_archite.php

By: DT

DT — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:03:44 +0000

Jon, Absolutely bang on. Thanks for the visit. I too am amazed that Gartner would not have floated this as a trial balloon first with some real practioners before such a big announcement. Cheers! Leo

By: LeodeSousa

LeodeSousa — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:34:51 +0000

Jon, Absolutely bang on. Thanks for the visit. I too am amazed that Gartner would not have floated this as a trial balloon first with some real practioners before such a big announcement. Cheers! Leo

By: Jon Ayre

Jon Ayre — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:50:53 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me that when people finally realise how to do something properly (after doing it wrongly for so long) they always assume that they are the only ones who know, and rush to tell the rest of the world that they have just rediscovered the wheel. I have no problem with people describing best practices, but to refer to it as something new or emergent is somewhat naive and demonstrates a lack of understanding of what is happening in the real world (which surprises me for Gartner as they are in the position to know what is going on).

Regards
The Enterprising Architect
http://theenterprisingarchitect.blogspot.com

By: Is Enterprise Architecture Emergent? - The Next Big Thing -

Is Enterprise Architecture Emergent? - The Next Big Thing - — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:05:00 +0000

[...] Leo de Sousa also wrote a piece on how EAs are doing this today, going into a bit more detail. [...]

By: LeodeSousa

LeodeSousa — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:15:41 +0000

If I ever tried terms like “Autonomous actor”and “Inversion of Control” on my senior leadership, I would be 1) laughed out of the room or 2) looking for a new job.

Practical EA approaches use business English!

Thanks for reading the post and taking time to comment. Leo

By: Shepard Towindo

Shepard Towindo — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:28:28 +0000

Without repeating what all of you have said, I recommend Gartner to pull back. There is nothing new about what they are describing as new EA approach, most of this is common EA best practices happening today, on planet earth.

My favorite property is the “Autonomous actor”, EA has always delegated the details to delivery teams.

Regards,
Shepard

By: jeff

jeff — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:04:01 +0000

Another great blog response to the emergent architecture discussion was posted by Michael Ellyett at http://enterprisesto.blogspot.com/2009/08/ea-emperors-new-clothes-from-gartner.html — while broadly taking a similar “so, what’s new?” line as your analysis, it also offers valuable restatements/reiterations for five of the seven Gartner principles. It will be good to see the published analysis from Bruce Robertson through the Gartner channels.

By: LeodeSousa

LeodeSousa — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:24:11 +0000

Thanks very much for the feedback John. It will be interesting to see how Gartner reacts to the comments on their “new” approach. We are a Gartner subscriber and as content gets published, I will share. Cheers!