Extending the Friedman-Sage systems engineering case study framework for enterprise architecture case study research

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Harrell, J. Michael | Sage, Andrew P.

Affiliations: The Aerospace Corporation, Chantilly, VA, USA | Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: mharrell@gmu.edu

Abstract: The concept of enterprise architecture arose as technologies emerged which made it possible to interconnect all the information technology within an enterprise. Before these internetworking technologies existed, systems were stovepiped by necessity. Any connection to another system or component had to be specifically designed and developed. However, once internetworking technologies became widely available and economically feasible, suddenly, stovepiped systems were no longer necessitated by the constraints of technology and economy. If anything can connect to everything, then the range of enterprise solutions becomes vast and there arises an overwhelming need to manage that solution space. Case study research is a proven method for conducting empirical research. This paper presents a general structure of a framework for enterprise architecture concepts and their illustration through related case studies in alignment with earlier systems engineering case study and enterprise systems engineering case study frameworks.

DOI: 10.3233/IKS-2010-0168

Journal: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 9, no. 3-4, pp. 239-257, 2010