Ask any Enterprise Design expert, and they will tell you that implementing and managing a well-integrated enterprise information management system is never an easy task. Building such a successful system would essentially entail that it be built over a successful information architecture model.

As an organization focused on increasing client shareholder value through enterprise information management, Glentworth are presently exploring the ROI and execution of two powerful architectural frameworks: The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) and MIKE 2.0., with considerable interest for our client base.

As with all information architecture frameworks, TOGAF and MIKE 2.0, do have some variations, however they are both highly process-oriented in design, enabling them to easily operate as complementary frameworks. MIKE 2.0 uses the Strategic Architecture for the Federated Enterprise (SAFE) framework as part of its execution methodology and is well suited to support information-orientated projects, and TOGAF adopts a more comprehensive approach, offering mature architecture models.

Combining the two frameworks could help create a powerful solution that offers broad Enterprise architecture perspective along with detailed Information driven focus. Potentially, this could significantly enhance data quality, add rigour and value into information specific projects such as Information Governance, Data Warehousing, Data Quality Improvement, Data Integration and Migration, Master Data Management, Data-driven IT Transformation, and Enterprise Search.

Aside from these benefits, TOGAF and MIKE 2.0 have also both adopted model driven architectures, such as the Object Management Group (OMG), which enables additional advantages. TOGAF is increasingly aligned along OMG's MDA, and MIKE2.0 uses OMG's meta-data standards. This ensures compliance to MDA, and enables the incorporation of unified modeling language (UML) into both MIKE2.0 and TOGAF.