Building Enterprise Information Architectures: Reengineering Information Systems

by Melissa A. Cook

The manager's guide to building a business-oriented information systems architecture. Written for IS and corporate management, CIOs, and consultants. Provides a practical, easy-to-use framework for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0134402561
• ISBN13: 9780134402567
• Release Date: February 1996
• Publisher: Pearson
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Business-Focused and pragmatic - highly recommended

Ms. Cook takes a no-nonsense approach to building an enterprise architecture that puts business requirements first. She starts this excellent book with a quick history, setting information architecture into a context. This is followed by addressing the hard part of architecture: overcoming political resistance and tackling the thorny problems of aligning systems to what the business needs. She pulls no punches. The next part of the book, chapter 3, introduces the Zachman Framework, which I personally believe is one of the best foundations for an architecture that aligns IT to business. Chapters 4 through 7 thoroughly delves into the layers of the Zachman Framework, and provides a coherent and comprehensive description of all of the "moving parts" from both an IT and a business perspective. The theoretical underpinnings are translated into an actionable plan in chapter 8, titled, "Making It Happen". This chapter is pragmatic and gives a detailed roadmap to implementing an enterprise information architecture that will truly align information technology to business requirements. Here are the key things I like about this book: (1) It focuses on the business, subordinating technology to a supporting role. This is refreshing. (2) It provides one of the best descriptions of the Zachman Framework I have ever read. (3) Political realities and organizational resistance are taken into account, and some excellent advice for overcoming these barriers is given. (4) Ms. Cook's approach to implementation is straightforward, and if followed, will greatly improve your chances for a successful implementation of an enterprise information architecture. Make no mistake, such an implementation is a daunting task with opportunities to fail lurking in many places. She has obviously encountered a good many implementation problems and gives some great advice on how to overcome them.Ms. Cook has made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge of information architecture, and a strong case for the Zachman Framework in this book. She also reinforces the need for a well thought out approach to implementation, and provides clear advice on how to successfully accomplish this.

Good overview

I'm a finance director at a privately owned manufacturing firm. By reading this book, I was able to work with our CIO in developing the most cost efficient enterprise system for our firm. Although it may be a little too general for the techies, the book is great for managers needing guidance on their system needs.

Conceptual thought meets pragmatism

In the modern world of objects and components, Melissa remind's us that there is nothing new under the sun. The strength of this book, appart from being a very enjoyable read, is the reference to classification theory - how to associate and classify real world things within the problem domain. There are many dimensions to understanding architecture and this book exploits the Zackman Framework to present the various perspectives. An essence of realism is presented that crosses the boundary between conceptual and logical thought within the context of Enterprise Architecture - first class. These thoughts and idea's can be applied to the design of gateways and distributed systems in unique and powerful ways. If you suffer from spaggetti or stove-pipe systems and are looking for some new idea's - then this book will provide the medicine you need.

Excellent Book

I have a business background an work in business development for a large Swiss ISP. We have a lot of development going on inhouse and furhtermore, need to integrate standard software. The book help me tremendously builing an understanding of what needs to be done to get order into our (creative) chaos. As a nice side effect I developed the glossary to communicate with the developers.

A reader-friendly text on the utility of IS architectures

My high endorsement for this publication reflects both the importance of the subject matter and the author's approach to presenting it. Cook takes the academically high-brow subject of information systems architectural planning and relates the major concepts in terms that any business user, manager or exective should appreciate. The first three chapters of this book are a must-read for EVERY business executive and manager who relies on information systems to help manage their enterprise.