Purpose behind business architecture

Togaf9 define architecture domains - Business, Information(application and data) and Technology. As per togaf9,the main purpose behind doing business architecture is that it can be the basis for developing application and data architecture. Is the business architecture is done only for IT architecture development? My view is the main objective of doing business architecture is to ensure that an enterprise is able to to successfully survive in an environment which is becoming more and more customer centric, globalized and competitive. The way an IT architecture defines products, solutions and systems which should be aligned, agile and productive, a business architect should facilitate in the design of business systems and processes which should help the organization in meeting its strategic business goals in current and future business environment. A business architect should work with all levels of management and should ensure that business systems and processes which emerge out of this exercise enables the organization to out smart its competitors .

A business architecture should facilitate the business person in following activities :

1. Defining enterprise vision, mission and values
   
2. Defining enterprise goals and objective
   
3. Defining enterprise business strategy for attaining its goal and objectives
4. Defining an organization structure which is in line with 1, 2 and 3 .
   
5. Defining a governance policy which is aligned to 1,2 and 3
6. Defining measures and KPI's which are in aligned to 1,2 and 3
7. An going process of reviewing steps 1 to 6 and changing them due to changed environments or in anticipation of future needs.
   

It should be emphasized that business architect act as facilitator during all above steps.

In fact, most of the time step 1 to 6 will be already define in some form(Implicitly and explicitly) . In most practical scenarios, a business architect will participate in step7 with the objective being to improve upon step 1 to 6.

He should able to take an out side in view of the business systems, processes and environment . Business persons , normally have an in side out view of the business . By providing an out side in view, Business architect can help business persons in an on going process of reviewing and improving steps 1 to 6 . .

It goes with out saying,that once business architect has been define, It should be be basis for the development of IT architecture .