| | MAY 20199CIOReviewdocumentation deteriorates, and service reusability declines. EA strategy should focus on aggressively simplifying everything ­i.e. rationalize portfolio to simplify, declutter. Cloud ready, mature API landscape, application portfolio rationalization, DevOps product-development methodologies etc, are some of the key foundations on which the success of digital transformation depends on.EA should partner with key stakeholders to define a robust digital strategy, and incremental roadmap to adjust to organizational priorities and maximize asset reuse. Investment portfolio should be rebalanced to shift budgets from run and grow categories to transform category. For example, reallocate funds from traditional phone support to emerging chatbot solutions.Execution should be nimble, swift, and agile. Determine and eliminate any barriers and road blocks to enable and accelerate Digital Transformation. Focus of the architecture and design reviews should be around simplification, and digital enablement.With growing responsibilities, EA should aggressively delegate execution to right stakeholders and focus on enabling them to be successful. For example, citizen democratization of technology selection, Bimodal IT, rapid roll out of prototypes, etc, not only save precious EA timebut also incentivize the execution team with high value opportunities. Competencies - DX is a holistic organizational change that requires new and enhanced competencies. EA team should have a deeper understanding of emerging trends, and tread on the relentless pursuit of innovation to maintain strong innovation pipeline.Resistance to change and agile methodologies are greatest obstacles for digital transformation. EA should embrace change and go beyond evangelizing DX and be the face of transformation. Workforce strategies should include approaches to transform from digital savvy to digital native mindset. Training to increase digital proficiency, and learning channels focusing on innovation, soft skills, and behavioral change management can bring the team step closer to digital readiness.Finally, Outcomes for success in digital era are different and broader. Traditional OPEX measures are inadequate measurements for DX; DX should be held to different KPIs and metrics. Every action, and deliverable, from quick wins to multi-year roadmaps should be measured with digital lens. Develop a solid business case with a combination of financial and non-financial, easy to track metrics that have ability to influence business decision making. Cross-functional value vectors such as speed to market, NPS (net promoter score), digital ROI, and enterprise TCO will be new commercial imperatives for digital transformation.To summarize, this new era on digital frontier brings change that is swift, big and hard. In an innovation driven organization, role of EA is undisputed, but how this role is changing is the major focus area for enterprises. A comprehensive and agile approach to EA transformation is required to ensure EA's role in successful digital transformation. Transform EA to be the pioneer of enterprise innovation and enabler of enterprise vision to harness the full value of the digital transformation.Steer the next chapter in EA journey, a long and interesting road ahead!
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