Enterprise

Intro

An enterprise is the highest‑level entity representing an organization across all missions and functions. It matters because architecture scope and governance are defined at the enterprise level.

Key points:

• May span multiple organizations or business units.
• Provides the context for shared principles and standards.
• Common use cases: operating model design, capability maps, portfolio alignment.
• Pitfall: unclear enterprise boundaries leading to fragmented strategies.

Examples:

• Group architecture for a conglomerate with multiple brands.
• Enterprise‑wide data governance framework.
• Shared service strategies across regions.

In practice:

Define scope, ownership, and governance early to align initiatives across the enterprise.

Related terms: enterprise-architecture; capability; operating-model

FAQs:

Q: Can an enterprise include external partners?
A: Yes, where governance and shared objectives apply.

Q: How is enterprise scope set?
A: By leadership decision, often aligned to legal and operating structures.

‍