Stage 7 of 8
Running EA as a Capability
This stage is about running enterprise architecture as a repeatable capability rather than a heroic one-off effort. It covers roles, governance, compliance, waivers, maturity, and operating model design.
Read this stage in sequence on the first pass. The point is to sharpen judgement through one concrete artefact and one practical decision, not to accumulate isolated notes.
What this stage covers
Use the modules in order. The groupings below organise the sequence without changing it.
Run architecture as a capability
Set the capability model, board behaviour, and compliance posture before reaching for maturity scores.
- 25 min. Explain architecture capability as an operating choice
- 25 min. Explain what an Architecture Board is for
- 30 min. Explain compliance assessment and waiver handling
Make governance usable
Use roles, skills, maturity, and scaled governance to avoid bureaucratic TOGAF.
- 30 min. Use skills and roles guidance realistically
- 30 min. Identify the sources of bureaucratic architecture behaviour
- 30 min. Apply governance and capability ideas to the London case
Why this stage matters
A strong architecture method without a workable capability model becomes a one-time slide deck. Governance is where the enterprise chooses whether architecture will influence reality.
London threads in this stage
- Architecture Board behaviour in a regulated energy context
- Waivers, compliance, and decision logging for delivery teams
- Proving architecture value through repository quality and assurance discipline
Artefacts you should be able to defend
- Architecture Board charter
- Compliance and waiver record
- Capability and maturity growth plan
Primary stage artefact
Architecture Board charter
Treat this as the main artefact the stage should sharpen. If you can explain who it is for, what decision it affects, and what evidence it depends on, the stage is doing real work.
My view
The right governance model is just strong enough to change decisions and no stronger. Anything beyond that becomes friction with a standards logo on it.
Stage workspace
The workspace contains eleven practice tools that reinforce the skills covered in each stage. Use them alongside the reading flow or revisit them during revision.