Dubai Think Tank 2025 - Part 1: A Turning Point for Enterprise Strategy & Architecture
- Sunil Dutt Jha
- Feb 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 17
Dubai Think Tank 2025: Redefining the Role of Enterprise Architecture
The Dubai Think Tank 2025, hosted by ICMG, brought together decision-makers from customs, aviation, retail, insurance, education, judiciary, real estate, software tools, Government agencies etc to rethink the role of Enterprise Architecture (EA).
Unlike typical EA events dominated by IT tools and frameworks, this Think Tank stood out for one reason:
It was shaped by business leaders, strategists, and sales professionals—not just IT teams.
For the first time, discussions moved beyond IT implementation and focused on how EA must drive real enterprise-wide transformation.
The IT-Centric Trap: What Industry Leaders Realized
Throughout the Think Tank, a pattern emerged—leaders from aviation, retail, and government agencies realized that their organizations were stuck in an IT-driven EA
approach.
Team from Abu Dhabi Customs team admitted that their EA discussions had been focused on systems and data governance, and now extending towards operational efficiency.
Dubai Municipality teams shared how interactions with CEOs pushed them to rethink EA as a dynamic model for transformation and decision makingbeyond just an IT roadmap.
Key Realization: If EA remains an IT-driven function, critical inefficiencies in business operations will never be solved.
Strategy Execution: The Missing Piece in Enterprise Architecture
One of the most critical discussions at the Think Tank centered on a fundamental issue:
Enterprise Strategy is meaningless without Execution.
Sales and business strategy leaders in the room helped shift the conversation beyond conceptual EA frameworks. Instead of mapping IT systems, the focus turned to aligning enterprise models to real business execution.
Executives from real estate and media (Publishing) industries pointed out that digital transformation efforts often stall because there is no enterprise-wide execution model linking strategy, process, and operations.
Senior leaders from Abu Dhabi Customs resonated with ICMG’s structured approach to Enterprise Anatomy, acknowledging that customs operations require an architecture that ensures execution.
Key Realization: Enterprise-wide strategy execution is impossible without the right EA structure.
A Game-Changing Shift: Business Leaders Reshaped the EA Discussion
One of the most exciting shifts at the Think Tank was how the inclusion of business leaders transformed the discussion panels.
At past EA events, the focus had often been:
-IT tools
-System governance
-Digital platforms
But at Dubai Think Tank 2025, the discussions evolved into critical strategic topics:
1.Strategic Positioning of the EA Department
Where does EA belong in the organization?
Should it be an IT function or a strategic business enabler?
How should EA interact with CEOs and decision-makers?
2.Architecture for Efficiency: Beyond Digital Transformation
How do we use EA to solve inefficiencies in customs clearance, aviation operations, and retail logistics?
Why does EA need to extend beyond IT to include real estate and urban development planning?
3.Reclaiming IT Architecture: From Myth to Mastery
How do we move beyond the traditional IT-driven EA model and re-establish architecture as a business discipline?
Why must IT systems align with business strategy instead of driving enterprise decisions?
Key Realization: The quality of EA discussions changes dramatically when business leaders, strategists, and sales professionals are part of the conversation.
ICMG Enterprise Anatomy: The Singular, Interconnected Framework for Enterprise Structuring
Just as every human has one and only one anatomy, consisting of interconnected organ systems that function in harmony, every enterprise operates with one and only one Enterprise Anatomy—a singular, structured framework that defines its 15 key departments or functions. Each of these enterprise organ systems is systematically structured into six interconnected layers—Strategy, Processes, Systems, Components, Implementation, and Operations—ensuring seamless strategy execution.
Unlike traditional enterprise models that view departments as separate, independent units, ICMG Enterprise Anatomy ensures that all enterprise functions are interlinked and operate as a unified system, much like how the human body functions as a cohesive whole rather than a collection of isolated organs.
How This Differs from Traditional Enterprise Fundamentals
Historically, enterprise structuring has been fragmented, treating functions like Finance, HR, Operations, and IT as independent silos—each managed with separate systems, processes, and decision-making frameworks. This disjointed approach has led to inefficiencies, duplication of efforts, and poor alignment between strategy and execution. The fundamentals of enterprise management since its inception have largely been project-driven and IT-led, with organizations focusing on process automation, digital transformation, and governance frameworks rather than designing an interconnected, singular enterprise model.
ICMG Enterprise Anatomy transforms this outdated thinking by providing a structured, interconnected model where enterprise functions do not operate in isolation but as interdependent systems, each linked to the larger enterprise framework. This ensures that strategy, execution, and operations are fully aligned, enabling enterprises to evolve, scale, and adapt seamlessly—just as human anatomy ensures coordinated functionality and sustainability.
Where Industries Can Benefit: Moving Forward with Enterprise Anatomy
By the end of the Think Tank, it was clear that Enterprise Anatomy is the missing link for many industries.
✈️ Airport Customs & Aviation
Enterprise-wide alignment can streamline passenger flow, customs clearance, and security processes.
EA should focus on end-to-end operational models, not just IT-driven automation.
🛒 Retail & Omnichannel Strategy
A unified enterprise structure can integrate supply chains, e-commerce, and in-store experiences into a seamless model.
Retailers must move beyond IT tools and design enterprise-wide commerce architectures.
🏦 Insurance & Risk Management
Instead of fragmented digital solutions, Enterprise Anatomy can structure end-to-end risk models across claims processing, fraud detection, and policy design.
Insurers must architect real-time underwriting and financial modeling as a business-wide structure.
🏗️ Real Estate & Urban Development
Enterprise-wide strategy execution is critical for aligning municipal planning, construction, and digital infrastructure under a single model.
EA must shift from zoning and IT-driven property management to full enterprise-wide city development planning.
Key Realization: Every industry benefits from Enterprise Anatomy, but most have yet to realize even its existence.
Evaluating Architecture: Should We Lower the Benchmark?
A key debate at the Think Tank was whether ICMG should lower the architecture evaluation benchmark to increase acceptance rates.
Currently, 90% of projects do not meet the minimum requirement for:
-Strategy, Process, Systems, Components, Implementation, and Operations
-Interlinking all elements for enterprise-wide efficiency
Leaders from Dubai Municipality and Abu Dhabi Customs unanimously agreed: The benchmark must remain high.
When we asked Alberto de Andrés (Ministry of Education) about reducing the high rejection rate of project submissions—currently as high as 90%—he emphasized the need to uphold this benchmark to ensure that only the most exceptional projects receive recognition. The rigor, he argued, is a hallmark of the program's integrity.
Yassin Yassin (Abu Dhabi Judcial Department) provided another perspective, suggesting that additional educational sessions and working samples could help participants better understand and align their submissions with the program’s requirements. He also stressed the importance of including connected models as a benchmark, ensuring that every element within a project aligns cohesively to reflect true enterprise excellence.
Enterprise Architecture is about excellence—not compliance.
Only enterprises that meet the full spectrum of architecture content should be recognized.
The ICMG Rating Platform will continue to ensure that only world-class enterprise structures receive recognition.
AI in 2030: The Role of Architecture in Automation
The Think Tank also featured a special panel discussion: AI in 2030?
Krish Ayyar, Managing Partner of ICMG, highlighted how his journey—from arriving in Sydney in 1979 as a data expert to today’s AI-driven world— IT has always been about automation and efficient automation. Even in 2040, efficient automation will have some different name.
His key insight:
The "A" in AI should stand for "Architecture"—because automation without a structured enterprise-wide architecture leads to inefficiencies.
Key Takeaway: AI is not just about machine learning—it’s about structuring enterprises for automation at scale.
Final Takeaway: The Time to Embrace the Shift is Now
The ICMG Think Tank in Dubai made one thing clear:
Just like human anatomy, Enterprise Anatomy has always existed—leading decision-makers now recognize that it is the key to enterprise longevity and long-term success.
Enterprise leaders from Abu Dhabi Customs, Dubai Municipality, aviation, retail, and finance agreed that it’s time to change the way EA is practiced:
1. EA must be positioned at the strategy level, not as an IT function.
2. Business leaders must be involved in EA discussions—not just IT teams.
Enterprise-wide strategy execution is critical for achieving real transformation.
The shift has begun, and Enterprise Anatomy is the future of business-wide EA.
Are You Ready for the Next Evolution of EA?
The shift towards business-first Enterprise Architecture.
⊛ Where does your organization stand in this transition? ⊛ Is EA still an IT function, or has it evolved into an enterprise-wide discipline? ⊛ What challenges do you see in shifting towards Enterprise Anatomy?