A business fable positioning business architecture in a large company and showcasing its value.
Once upon a time, in the vast corporate landscape of GiantMegaCorp, nestled in a sea of bright monitors and the scent of strong coffee, sat Dolores Dubious, the COO. Sharp-eyed and inquisitive, she navigated the corporate storms with an uncanny sense of direction. But now, she felt like a sailor staring at an unknown constellation—the domain: Business Architecture.
In her office, which felt like a portal to another dimension with walls adorned with charts and graphs, she leaned back, tapping her stylus against the sleek glass of her tablet. The glare of the headlines that screamed about the impending recession gnawed at her, demanding her attention.
“Ah, William!” Dolores exclaimed as a tall, bespectacled man walked in. His silver hair contrasted with the vibrant colors of his Hawaiian shirt – an act of rebellion in the starched world of corporates. He was William Whole, the head of Business Architecture, a maverick genius who found order in chaos.
“Good morning, Dolores,” William greeted, glancing at the monitor. “Looks like we’ve got another recession to deal with.”
Dolores nodded, her eyes unflinching, “And that’s why we need to talk, William. I want to know about Business Architecture – why it matters and why we should keep investing in it.”
William smiled, showing a hint of his rarely-seen wit, “You want a bedtime story or the corporate mumbo-jumbo?”
“A story, William. Something that makes sense,” Dolores replied, leaning back.
And thus, began the tale.
Positioning Business Architecture
“Imagine our GiantMegaCorp as a city,” William started, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. “A thriving, bustling city filled with various districts – finance, sales, IT, human resources – each a unique entity but interconnected.”
Dolores nodded, intrigued, following his metaphor.
“In this city, everyone knows their roles. The financial district knows how to count beans. Sales can sell snow to the Eskimos, and HR, they keep us all sane and grounded.”
Dolores chuckled at his subtle jab.
“But what happens when we want to build something new – a railway line from finance to sales? Or perhaps, set up a new district altogether for a new product line? We can’t just start building willy-nilly.”
Dolores agreed, “That would lead to chaos, wasted resources, and many unhappy citizens.”
“Exactly!” William exclaimed. “And that’s where Business Architecture comes in. We are the city planners. We ensure that the railway line doesn’t disrupt the day-to-day activities of our city. We ensure the new district doesn’t just pop up anywhere but is strategically placed for the benefit of the entire city.”
William took a pause, letting his words sink in.
“But it’s not just about avoiding the bad, Dolores,” he added. “Good Business Architecture can enhance our city’s potential. For example, a well-planned city is efficient and more attractive to its citizens. Similarly, a well-structured organization becomes more attractive to employees, leading to better talent retention.”
Dolores was silent for a moment, absorbing his insights. Finally, she smiled and said, “You do have a way with words, William.”
“Let’s go one step further, Dolores,” William continued, his eyes gleaming enthusiastically. “This city, our GiantMegaCorp, doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s part of a country, a world filled with other cities – our competitors, partners, and customers. Our Business Architecture needs to account for them too. That’s what makes it not just a survival mechanism but a strategic tool for competitive advantage.”
And then, with an expression of someone revealing a magic trick, he added, “And, in this looming recession, isn’t that what we need?”
Dolores looked at William, her eyes reflecting a newfound appreciation for Business Architecture. She chuckled, ” William, I asked for a fable, but you’ve given me a compelling city tour. And yes, more than ever, I see the need to invest in city planners.”
William tipped his imaginary hat, “All in a day’s work, Dolores.”
As Dolores dived back into her sea of reports and projections, she saw them with new eyes. They weren’t just numbers and statistics anymore; they were districts, railways, and citizens of her corporate city. And at that moment, she knew that Business Architecture was not a cost to cut but a lifeline to embrace, more so during the upcoming storm of recession.
So, what do you think of the fable positioning business architecture and showcasing its value? How do you go about positioning business architecture in your firm?
