Enterprise IT Architecture in Large Federated Organizations: The Art of the Possible

In this article the author analyzes an original case study of an enterprise IT architecture function in a large federated U.K.-based global pharmaceutical company. He uses alignment theory to identify a close relationship between enterprise IT architecture and IT strategy from an organizational viewpoint and demonstrates how a number of factors, especially structure, influence and in particular inhibit the contribution of the architecture function. The author offers practical insights into how architects cope with the tensions that arise.