Steven Thornton — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:39 GMT

In reading this article and as a member of an enterprise architecture (EA) team, I began thinking about the role of IAs versus the role of enterprise IT architecture. It seems that the organization’s EA team, which is typically chartered with aligning the organization’s enterprise information system design with the business (architecture) and processes, might be a great resource for IA’s to work with to influence change. Of course, this partnership would reside primarily at the corporate, divisional, or regional layer of a large organization, given the strategic role of most EA teams. Nevertheless, it is one potential resource to consider. In fact, many large organizations are required to document the current and future state information architecture as well as a transition plan for their information systems within this design layer. Given the limited resources of many of these EA teams, some might welcome a partnership with IAs that are willing and able to step up to the plate.

Steven Thornton — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:53:22 GMT

Great, honest look at an often typical redesign project. Funny, though, I’ve never considered a redesign a minor project! Not sure it’s entirely applicable, but remember the overquoted Thomas Edison:

“I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

(Just hope your budget or sanity do not run out before the end.)

That’s the way I’ve viewed the evolution of human factors and usability since the Web took off in the 90’s. We as practitioners have had the opportunity to learn from our experiences and share them with each other. As a result, consider how far we’ve all come. Do you remember the proliferation of truly horrendous designs during the Wild West Web Days in the mid to late 90’s?

Boxes and Arrows: Comments by Steven Thornton