Why Most Organizations need a Data Strategy

One of the most important tasks that a Data Architect is often asked to help with is the creation of an Enterprise Data Strategy. But why is Data Strategy so important and what exactly does it consist of, and lastly why is this a task that a Data Architect should be leading or supporting? So, what is a Data Strategy? Let's review what it isn't first… A Data Strategy is not a list of generic principles or obvious statements (such as "Data is an...

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Creating Agile IT Transformation - part 1

IT Transformation has been a buzzword for more than a decade now, but what does it really mean? The first time I heard it used regularly was in relation to specific Department of Defense (DoD) technology initiatives from the early 2000's. I had the opportunity to work on several of those projects and as the years progressed the concept of IT Transformation evolved quite a bit – becoming much more flexible and yes – even somewhat Agile in nature. At...

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Making the Case for IT Architecture

There are still quite a few misconceptions in regards to IT Architecture. For many, hearing the term "Architecture" in relation to any IT topic seems to imply Enterprise Architecture (EA). To others, the notion of formal design processes represents the anti-thesis of Agile or responsive problem-solving. These misconceptions are unfortunate because there has never been more architecture connected to IT in actual practice and there has never been...

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