Benefits, challenges and critical success factors of enterprise architecture implementation - Case HSL

Abstract

Objectives of the Study

The Act on Information Management Governance in Public Administration is forcing public administration authorities in Finland to implement enterprise architecture (EA). The main objectives of this thesis is to find out and understand benefits, challenges, and critical success factors of enterprise architecture implementation. The final focus is on EA implementation of one Finnish public administration authority: HSL - Helsinki Region Transport, to discover actual benefits and challenges of EA implementation. Aim is also to recognize actions, which would increase the success factor of EA implementation in HSL.

Academic background and methodology

The research consists of literature review and empirical research, which is conducted as a case study. For literature review, multiple earlier studies are reviewed to discover and understand benefits, challenges, and critical success factors of enterprise architecture implementation. The case study is based on findings recognized while enterprise architecture is implemented in HSL. In order to discuss about the findings of the case study, frameworks are used to categorize findings and to link them to results of literature review.

Findings and conclusions

Theoretical findings show that EA benefits are wide and comprehensive concerning both IT and business. Maturity of enterprise architecture affects the benefits received. Practical findings support this, as no EA benefits were achieved in HSL. According to literature, first benefits are technology-related, which lead to business-related benefits. In addition, increase of common and integrated understanding of enterprise is one of the first benefits. The case study suggest this also. EA challenges arise mainly from political, project management, and organizational issues. To face them, it is necessary to achieve efficient level of competence and understanding of EA and to gain support of management and their commitment to EA. Again, practical findings show that, in early phase, challenges can concern more practical issues, like resources and lack of documentation. Still according to case study, main challenges are similar the ones reviewed from literature. To face them, organizational habits are to be changed and structure improved.