Enterprise architecture is a holistic expression of an enterprise through different aspects of the enterprise, which includes goals and objectives, strategies and governance, organization structures, and technological structures. An enterprise architecture program supports frameworks that collectively enable essential communications and functioning of an enterprise as a whole. To capture the vision of an entire enterprise, the definition of a framework is necessary. Therefore, an enterprise architecture program enables communication regarding every aspect of the enterprise, which offers consistent and precise information about an organization’s entire environment (Schekkerman, 2004). This way an organization is able to determine ways to improve its services, respond to the changing business environment or make better decisions. An enterprise architecture offer organizations with vital business and technological information that enable the streamlining of its operations thereby reducing inconsistencies, duplication, technological complexities and costs.
As a foundation to execute business strategy, establishing enterprise architecture is necessary. It is therefore a good recommendation for the DMV to establish an EA program. The DMV needs to establish an enterprise architecture, which will map the overall design of the organization, while considering the organizational design, systems designs, technological infrastructure design, business process design as well as data analysis. The DMV enterprise architecture basis should be on its strategic vision, which facilitates all its seven main processes (Commonwealth of Virginia-DMV, 2007).
The DVM CSI (customer-centric, service-oriented, state of the art, secure and intelligent) systems redesign is essential to attain enterprise architecture success. An EA program will bring about business process improvement by improving efficiencies, accommodating interoperability while enhancing security. In addition to these, the EA program will enable strategic plan achievement through attaining goals and objectives set out. The EA program requires technological infrastructure that will provide service-oriented, secure, and customer-focused business operations. The system should support the 2000 administrators as well as their many clients accessing the system from various convenient locations through web services.
The EA program is used to manage healthcare through state-level data consolidation, health institution linking and drug inventory management. The problems that the EA addresses are easy access to information while ensuring privacy and security. This is depicted by the healthcare service delivery using the modified EA program of the Tamil Nadu health management information system (TNHMIS), which the Indian Government facilitated in its development to provide affordable healthcare that is easily accessible to all its citizens (Kaushik & Raman, 2015). The DMV CSI system will improve access to information through a single sign-on, while increasing alternative service access channels. The major benefit that the enterprise architecture brings to any organization is the overall integration and standardization. This improves the overall organization throughput and efficiency in services offered and data storage and analysis (Ross, Weill & Robertson, 2008).
This is achieved through the consolidation of disparate applications using a single integrated data store, thereby integrating several applications through core modules, and providing financial, tax-processing, tracking through the inventory management services, and netting services (Commonwealth of Virginia-DMV, 2007). The EA program will enable business intelligence, which compiles all the organization’s data to provide meaningful information that is useful as a decision support tool or to identify fraudulent activity within the organization. The EA program will enhance the service delivery of the DMV to its multitude of transportation clients, business partners as well as its stakeholders. Moreover, the EA program will provide an interface where different applications that are used will integrate with other systems within the DMV.
References:
Commonwealth of Virginia-Department of Motor Vehicles, (2007, August 31). DMV CSI systems redesign project. Request for Proposal (RFP) 154:7-061. Originally retrieved from http://www.dmv.state.va.us/csi/pdf/rfp.pdf
Kaushik, A., & Raman, A. (January 01, 2015). The new data-driven enterprise architecture for e-healthcare: Lessons from the Indian public sector. Government Information Quarterly, 32, 1, 63-74.
Ross, J. W., Weill, P., & Robertson, D. C. (2008). Enterprise architecture as strategy: Creating a foundation for business execution. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press.
Schekkerman, J. (2004). How to survive in the jungle of enterprise architecture framework: Creating or choosing an enterprise architecture framework. Victoria: Trafford.
