A Brief Intro

Simply put, enterprise solution architecture (ESA) falls between enterprise architecture (EA) and solution architecture (SA), leaning more toward the latter. It's an IT service-based architecture for the missing link between EA and SA.

Unlike an EA, an ESA often takes an agile approach, so an ESA is generally referred to as an Agile ESA or A-ESA for short. Visit a-esa.com to learn more about this topic.

A-ESA (Agile Enterprise Solution Architecture) Modeling Diagram is a straightforward tool to enhance your architectural thinking.

It’s a generic IT modeling tool suitable for most enterprise solution architectures. You can create your high-level enterprise capability mapping, business processes, case scenarios, functional service relationships, operational deployment mapping, as well as enterprise solution context, environment, integration, and patterns.

Briefly,A-ESA model is also called S3 model. This is because it aims to achieve these 3S (Simple, Significant, and Systematic) objectives:

1.       Simple specifications for easy learning and adoption

-       Specify a less formal and minimal set of model elements at the just-enough, coarse-grained solution architecture level and communicate better instead of more.

-       Make all elements easily realizable in solution design and implementation.

-       Allow some flexibility to meet a wide range of solution architectural needs.

2.       Significant architectural considerations

-       Emphasize significant case scenarios, not a full solution architecture or complex model presentation.

-       Focus on key non-functional requirements (NFRs) and service level characteristics and support decisional architecture with metrics elements and architectural walkthroughs.

-       Align with EA guidance such as objectives, challenges, principles, and architecture building blocks.

3.       Systematic liaison between different levels of architecture

-       Adopt an IT service-based, enterprise-level solution architecture with a holistic approach for overlapping concerns in the architectural integration of EA, BA, AA, DA and TA.

-       Architect solution building blocks and their governing correlations, with less detailed descriptions but an effective reference to people, communication plans, project management, solution process, and external environment.  

If you have any suggestions and comments, please reach out to us at contact@a-sea.com.