Enterprise Architecture: Myth, Reality, and Success Factors

Abstract

Enterprise Architecture (EA) has evolved into a critical strategic framework for digital transformation, yet implementation failure rates remain consistently high across both government and private sector organizations. A significant gap persists between theoretical EA benefits and practical implementation outcomes, necessitating systematic investigation of success and failure factors. The system reviews revealed six core success factors: strong governance and leadership, effective communication and collaboration, organizational integration, skilled teams, strategic alignment, and appropriate methodologies. Communication emerged as the critical enabler for change management, while organizational anchoring mediated other factors' effectiveness. Government organizations emphasized governance structures and regulatory compliance, whereas private enterprises focused on agility and return on investment. Both sectors required continuous evaluation mechanisms for sustained EA benefits. The findings conclusively demonstrate that EA success depends on sustained organizational work rather than framework selection or technological solutions alone. Effective implementation requires establishing clear to-be vision, comprehensive planning across business-data-application-technology domains, and ongoing commitment to architectural discipline. This research bridges the theory-practice gap by providing evidence-based guidance for organizations seeking EA transformation success. Enterprise Architecture works only when organizations commit to doing the necessary work.