In the evolving landscape of Enterprise Architecture (EA), there is an important and critical distinction between the strategic oversight of EA and the custodianship of its assets.
While EAs can and often should report to the CEO to emphasize their strategic importance across the entire organization, the CIO plays a crucial role as the custodian of the Enterprise Anatomy assets.
This role is vital due to the sensitive and foundational nature of the information these assets contain, which is analogous to the role of CFOs with financial assets and balance sheets.
Strategic Oversight by CEO vs. Custodial Responsibility by CIO
1. Strategic Oversight by the CEO:
Enterprise-Wide Vision: When EAs report to the CEO, it places Enterprise Architecture at the heart of strategic business planning. This positioning helps ensure that EA initiatives are directly aligned with the enterprise's highest strategic goals, emphasizing the integral role of architecture in achieving business objectives across all departments.
Enhanced Visibility and Integration: Reporting to the CEO enhances the visibility of EA initiatives, ensuring they receive the requisite attention and resources across the organization. This setup fosters a more integrated approach to architecture, transcending departmental silos and promoting a holistic view of the enterprise.