Enterprise architecture (EA) practitioners have an influence that is either ‘final decision maker’ or ‘great deal of influence’ on $1.1 trillion in worldwide enterprise IT spending, according to a survey information technology research and advisory company Gartner Inc.
The July 2012 survey states that 50% of EA practitioners have a significant impact on enterprise IT budget activities and decisions. The study found that half of EA practitioners have an influence over their organisation’s IT budget allocation that is either 'final decision maker' or 'great deal of influence’.
Based on the EA survey results from Gartner events in North America and Europe, analysts estimate that EA practitioners have a 'final decision-making' influence on $331 billion in worldwide enterprise IT spend and a 'great deal of influence' on $774 billion in worldwide enterprise IT spending.
“Overwhelmingly we find EA practitioners focused on delivering on business value and strategic transformation. Gone are the days of just 'doing EA' with little value or impact. Sixty eight percent of organisations surveyed stated that they are focusing their EA programme on aligning business and IT strategies, delivering strategic business and IT value, or enabling major business transformation,” Philip Allega, managing vice-president at Gartner, said in a release on Tuesday.
This new generation of EA practitioners, Allega said, offered technology and service providers (TSPs) with an opportunity as well as a threat. TSPs should develop targeted marketing to this new generation of EA practitioner as they have a significant influence on their organisation’s buying decisions. Those that fail to understand the priorities, strategic focus and impact of EA practitioners will jeopardise their ability to sell into an organisation, he added.
Stating that organisations starting, restarting or renewing their EA efforts present an opportunity for providers to market to and influence a new generation of EA practitioners, the survey revealed that 77% of respondents were either restarting or renewing EA efforts (18%), initiating EA for the first time (34%) or taking EA efforts to the next level (25%).
In organisations starting EA for the first time, EA practitioners have a significant influence on IT budget decisions, but significantly less have decision-making authority. These new and restarting organisations present an opportunity for TSPs to target a new generation of EA practitioners, the study said.
