On developing business architectures : a multi-framework evaluation of an early-stage enterprise

Abstract

Early-stage enterprises are characterized by leveraging limited resources during periods of accelerating industry growth and relatively high uncertainty. This thesis is an examination of an early-stage enterprise within the medical technology industry using multiple frameworks. In addition to the standard Lean Advancement Initiative (LAI) suite of tools, the enterprise will be evaluated using Nightingale and Rhodes' eight Enterprise Architecture (EA) views, Kaplan's Balanced Scorecard (BSC), McKinsey's 7S framework, and Grave's Spiral Dynamics. Moreover, this thesis includes a practical examination of the current state using the framework developed by Piepenbrock's doctoral thesis that introduced the notion of modular versus integral enterprise architectures. A transformation plan is proposed based on the firm's current state and preferred future state based on insights from the various self-assessments and prevailing corporate strategy. The transformation plan is also informed by the author's perceived receptivity, commitment and need for change of the organization. The case organization's current state is described in general terms to protect the company's identity since the material presented includes portions of their corporate strategy and source of competitive advantage. Recognizing that all competitive advantage is temporary, considerable care has been exercised to balance the relevance of the research with the privacy needs of the organization.