Enterprise Architecture as Explanatory Information Systems Theory for Understanding Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Growth

Abstract

Understanding and explaining small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth is important for sustainability from multiple perspectives. Research indicates that SMEs comprise more than 80% of most economies, and their cumulative impact on sustainability considerations is far from trivial. In addition, for sustainability concerns to be prioritized, an SME has to be successful over time. In most developing countries, SMEs play a major role in solving socio-economic challenges. SMEs are an active research topic within the information systems (IS) discipline, often within the enterprise architecture (EA) domain. EA fundamentally adopts a systems perspective to describe the essential elements of a socio-technical organization and their relationships to each other and to the environment in order to understand complexity and manage change. However, despite rapid adoption originally, EA research and practice often fails to deliver on expectations. In some circles, EA became synonymous with projects that are over-budget, over-time and costly without the expected return on investment. In this paper, we argue that EA remains indispensable for understanding and explaining enterprises and that we fundamentally need to revisit some of the applications of EA. We, therefore, executed a research study in two parts. In the first part, we applied IS theory perspectives and adopted the taxonomy and structural components of theory to argue that EA, as represented by the Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture (ZFEA), could be adopted as an explanatory IS theory. In the second part of the study, we subsequently analysed multiple case studies from this theoretical basis to investigate whether distinguishable focus patterns could be detected during SME growth. The final results provide evidence that EA, represented through an appropriate framework like the ZFEA, could serve as an explanatory theory for SMEs during start-up, growth and transformation. We identified focus patterns and from these results, it should be possible to understand and explain how SMEs grow. Positioning the ZFEA as explanatory IS theory provides insight into the role and purpose of the ZFEA (and by extension EA), and could assist researchers and practitioners with mediating the challenges experienced by SMEs, and, by extension, enhance sustainable development.

Digitalization and enterprise architecture management: a perspective on benefits and challenges

“…In his explanations, the author showed how a company can move its legacy systems onto a digital platform. In a multi-case study, Gerber et al (2020) focus on small-and mediumsized enterprises. They tried to find patterns for the growth of small and medium enterprises.…”

Analisis Dan Perancangan Enterprise Architecture Pada Dinas Peternakan Dan Kesehatan Hewan (Dpkh) Kabupaten Brebes Menggunakan Framework Togaf Adm

“…EA merancang transformasi organisasi dari "as-is" ke "to-be" dengan digitalisasi yang akan mempengaruhi aspek bisnis. Dampak dari pengaruh tersebut perlu dipahami untuk mempertahankan fungsi bisnis tetap efektif, relevan, dan mempertahankan keunggulan kompetitif yang selalu menjadi tujuan utama EA [12].…”

Exploring the relationship between digital transformation of enterprises and “information infrastructure” in the new infrastructure perspective - based on industrial connection

“…The literature [14] explores the reasons for the different impacts of digital transformation on quantity and quality, analyzes the mechanisms of technological innovation, and explores the digital transformation of agribusiness based on a threshold model. The literature [15] focuses on the analysis and study of the growth of SMEs in the field of enterprise architecture on the practices of SMEs in digital transformation. The literature [16] argues that the process of business development has been transformed from information technology to digitalization, and companies need to build solutions for the integration of information module products and digital operating platforms.…”