A business fable highlights the value of business architecture in a financial services company.

Once upon a time, at the bustling headquarters of FinancialGiant, Ursula Unconvinced, the pragmatic and ever-vigilant COO, summoned Beth Bigpicture, the visionary Head of Business Architecture, into her office. Ursula’s penetrating gaze hinted at the impending economic storm threatening their business. Beth entered with an air of composure, her eyes radiating determination.

Value of Business Architecture

“Tell me, Beth,” Ursula began, her tone as neutral as if she were commenting on the weather, “What’s this Business Architecture business really about?”

Taking a brief moment to gather her thoughts, Beth responded, “Think of our company, Ursula, as a teeming metropolis. Each department resembles a neighborhood, bustling with its own unique blend of shops, restaurants, and people, all interacting and exchanging goods and services.”

Ursula’s eyebrow arched, and a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. “So, are you the mayor in this little fable?”

Beth laughed, “Not quite. I’m more akin to a city planner. The Business Architecture team ensures the city thrives through effective design, facilitating seamless connections between the neighborhoods and ensuring resources flow smoothly. In addition, we strategize the city’s growth, determining how new buildings can integrate without disrupting the existing ecosystem.”

“But Beth,” Ursula interjected, her smirk morphing into a skeptical frown, “why can’t the shop owners make their own decisions? Can’t they decide what and where to build?”

Beth nodded, appreciating the question. “Indeed, they could. But without a coherent plan, you might end up with a bakery next door to a diet center or a tranquil bookshop beside a raucous music store. They might coexist, but far from optimally.”

Ursula chuckled, “A diet center and a bakery? That’s a recipe for an all-out neighborhood war!”

“Exactly, Ursula!” Beth concurred enthusiastically. “Just like in a city, a company without a solid business architecture can suffer from conflicting goals, redundancies, and inefficiencies. Imagine constructing a highway without an on-ramp or designing a library sans a reading room.”

Ursula pondered Beth’s words, her fingers drumming rhythmically on the polished mahogany of her desk. “I see the logic, but how does this translate into actual value, Beth? What’s the return on this investment?”

Beth, ready for this question, responded, “While the value may not always manifest in tangible terms, it’s significant. We save time, reduce costs, and bolster productivity by aligning processes, people, and technology. Consider it akin to building a highway system that eases commuting, curtails traffic jams, and elevates the city’s overall efficiency. The entire economy thrives as a result.”

Intrigued, Ursula continued her inquisition. “So, if we were to face a recession and decided to cut corners, what would the absence of a Business Architecture team mean to us?”

“Visualize the city again,” Beth proposed, “this time, absent a planner. Buildings sprout up haphazardly. The bakery gets shoved next to a fireworks factory. The school is sandwiched between two deafening nightclubs. The resulting chaos turns the city into a mess of inefficiency and confusion. Productivity nosedives. That’s the risk we run by neglecting business architecture.”

Ursula burst into laughter. “A bakery next to a fireworks factory? Now that’s a spectacle! And school kids with nightclub dance moves instead of math skills? Quite the chaotic city you’ve painted there, Beth!”

Beth joined in the laughter before sobering up. “Indeed, Ursula, but in all seriousness, Business Architecture isn’t just another line item in our budget; it’s a strategic investment. By prioritizing it, especially during a recession, we navigate through chaos and have the potential to emerge even stronger.”

Ursula lapsed into a thoughtful silence. “Beth, I can’t say I’m wholly convinced yet, but you’ve certainly given me plenty to chew on.”

Standing up, Beth responded, “I appreciate your skepticism, Ursula. But remember, investing in city planning today can save a lot of reconstruction costs down the line.”

As Ursula mulled over the conversation, she couldn’t help but chuckle at the image of the chaotic city, the unlikely juxtapositions, and the general mayhem. Yet, as the humor faded, she found herself increasingly drawn to the profound implications of the analogy. Business Architecture wasn’t merely another cog in the wheel of their operation. The blueprint, the strategic plan, allowed FinancialGiant to operate at its best. Without it, chaos wouldn’t just be a possibility; it was a certainty.

“Quite the city planner you are, Beth,” Ursula murmured to herself, a faint smile on her lips. “Quite the city planner, indeed.”

So, what do you think of how Beth demonstrated the value of business architecture? How do you position and showcase the value of business architecture to your C-Suite?