Strategic Requirements for Technology Backplane Development

From MIKE2.0 Methodology

Activity: Strategic Requirements for Technology Backplane Development

Objective

The Strategic Requirements for Technology Backplane Development activity defines the functional capabilities that are required for Information Development and Infrastructure Development are mapped against conceptual architecture capabilities as defined by the SAFE Architecture. The team will also use other Supporting Assets of the SAFE framework as a starting point and will gather the requirements that will let them take the architecture from the conceptual to the logical level.

Major Deliverables

• Strategic Functional Requirements for Technology Backplane Architecture

Tasks

Define Foundation Capabilities for Information Development

Objective:

In this task, the baseline capabilities will required for managing information will be determined based on requirements and strategic technology principles.

The SAFE architecture should be used as a starting point for this exercise. It should be noted that clients may have different definitions for these terms or have some additional areas covered. The team should be flexible with this model, whilst still using it as a guide. The architecture should be represented pictorially and also contain high level descriptions of all major components.

Most large-scale projects will require these Foundation Capabilities for Information Development. Foundation Capabilities should provide the first step in the gap analysis process in building the future-state from the current-state.

Input:

• Information Maturity Assessment
• Information Management Guiding Principles
• Future-State Conceptual Architecture
• High Level Solution Architecture Options
• Prioritised High-Level Information Requirements
• Prioritised Work Opportunities

Output:

• Strategic Functional Requirements that apply to Information Development Foundation Capabilities

Define Foundation Capabilities for Infrastructure Development

Objective:

In this task, the baseline capabilities that are required for providing infrastructure and integration will be determined based on requirements and strategic technology principles. The SAFE architecture should be used as a starting point for this exercise. It should be noted that clients may have different definitions for these terms or have some additional areas covered. The team should be flexible with this model, whilst still using it as a guide. The architecture should be represented pictorially and also contain high level descriptions of all major components.

Most large-scale projects will require these Foundation Capabilities for Infrastructure Development. Foundation Capabilities should provide the first step in the gap analysis process in building the future-state from the current-state.

Input:

• Infrastructure Maturity Assessment
• Technology Guiding Principles
• Future-State Conceptual Architecture
• High Level Solution Architecture Options
• Source-to-Target Matrix
• Prioritised High-Level Information Requirements
• Prioritised Work Opportunities

Output:

• Strategic Functional Requirements that apply to Infrastructure Development Foundation Capabilities

Define Advanced Capabilities for Information Development

Objective:

In this task, the need for more advanced capabilities in the area of Information Management is defined. This includes both architectural implementations (e.g. reusable services) and more enabling technologies (e.g. modeling data in motion). In defining the future-state conceptual architecture, it is important to take note of the timeline when different capabilities will be deployed, as this should be represented in the final blueprint.

The SAFE Architecture should be used as a starting point for this exercise. It should be noted that clients may have different definitions for these terms or have some additional areas covered. The team should be flexible with this model, whilst still using it as a guide. The architecture should be represented pictorially and also contain high level descriptions of all major components.

Input:

• Information Maturity Assessment
• Information Management Guiding Principles
• Future-State Conceptual Architecture
• High Level Solution Architecture Options
• Prioritised High-Level Information Requirements
• Prioritised Work Opportunities

Output:

• Strategic Functional Requirements that apply to Information Development Advanced Capabilities

Define Advanced Capabilities for Infrastructure Development

Objective:

In this task, the need for more advanced capabilities in the area of Infrastructure Management is defined. This includes both architectural implementations (e.g. reusable services) and more enabling technologies such as Services Orchestration.

The SAFE architecture should be used as a starting point for this exercise. It should be noted that clients may have different definitions for these terms or have some additional areas covered. The team should be flexible with this model, whilst still using it as a guide. The architecture should be represented pictorially and also contain high level descriptions of all major components.

Input:

• Infrastructure Maturity Assessment
• Technology Guiding Principles
• Future-State Conceptual Architecture
• High Level Solution Architecture Options
• Source-to-Target Matrix
• Prioritised High-Level Information Requirements
• Prioritised Work Opportunities

Output:

• Strategic Functional Requirements that apply to Infrastructure Development Advanced Capabilities

Core Supporting Assets

• SAFE Architecture Conceptual Framework
• Relevant High Level Solution Architecture Options
• A good example document to refer to for a BI Logical Architecture is the BI Solution Security Requirements Deliverable. Despite its name, it is actually more focused on the Technology Backplane than the "front end" of Business Intelligence.

Yellow Flags

• Strategic Requirements do not align with Guiding Principles or Conceptual Architecture
• Resistance to taking a Technology Backplane-based approach across the enterprise, Infrastructure and Information Development requirements are being defined only at the project

Key Resource Requirements

• Technical Business Analyst
• Information Architect
• Infrastructure Architect