Integrating applications to reduce data maintenance, part 2

Here is the rest of Mike's answer. See Part 1...

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If the problem we're addressing is of an information access nature (can't get good information to the management team), we develop a data warehouse program that would include projects that implement a multi-tier data warehouse that brings data from the appropriate operational sources, subjects that data to the business definition of "good" data, integrates the data into "business meaningful" subject areas at the in-take layer which then feeds one or more data marts and/or exploration data warehouses depending on the information need requirements of the business (these requirements would be in that business model).

If the problem we're addressing is BOTH operational and information access, then the program would be comprised of projects that implement pieces of the above in a sequence that promises the best return to the business units sponsoring the effort.

Regardless of the scope and/or nature of the problem set being addressed, the ultimate deliverable will be a program charter that defines architectural governance, identifies the resource requirements (applications, technologies {hardware & network}, people, organization changes, skills training, etc) to implement AND sustain those architectures. This architectural governance is supported through a tactical plan that defines a series of prioritized projects over a planning horizon of 18-24 months. Each project will be chartered to deliver one or more aspects of the architecture back to the program AND will deliver some functional business value to the sponsoring business unit. Each project is "chunked" such that the value can be realized every three to four months. The program management discipline that oversees the program and the project management discipline for each incremental project (increment) within the program will use more of a time-boxed incremental method than the traditional waterfall method.

This is just a glimpse of the recommended approach. This approach has proven to work in virtually every vertical industry via the implementation of Corporate Information Factory (CIF)-based architectures. We are also seeing great success of this approach in the government sector via the implementation of GIF-based architectures.

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This was first published in September 2003

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