Layers of Democratization Architecture
To get the best from a democratized organizational model, and to avoid many of its problems, we need to architect the organization across three interrelated layers.
Platform Architecture — Technology Component
The platform architecture consists of the technical platform and core services consumed by the business and technical teams. The platform provides a core set of reusable and shared platform services, a minimum viable architecture to meet local domain and department needs, and a shared strategic architecture that enables collaboration among stakeholders. For example, key business applications such as ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relationship management), POS (point of sale), and so on, along with other services, such as security, infrastructure, and data management. The platform is architected, with reusability as a core tenet, using a modular API and service- oriented architecture (SOA).
Team Architecture — People Component
Turn the enterprise architecture (EA) practice group into a team of subject matter experts that offers a set of expertise services to meet the needs of stakeholders in each layer. Create multidisciplinary teams in which technology and business experts work together and share accountability for business and technology outcomes.
This defines the architecture that supports and enables the teams. To be effective in doing their work, teams use a minimum viable architecture that is common to them all. This contains a simple framework, design patterns, principles, and policies that will be helpful to those teams in fulfilling local needs. We should see localization as a tenet here, creating agility and flexibility for individual teams to meet their local needs.
Shared Architecture — Processes Component
Use the enterprise architecture to enable collaboration across each layer previously mentioned, bringing key teams and expertise together at the right place and time. This sets the shared governance direction for the organization. It defines the strategy, goals and objectives, governance model, and strategic roadmap. This ensures that those involved understand the direction and objectives and can make their local decisions within that context.
Figure 6-1. Layers of architecture for democratization
Enhancing the capability of data discovery is essential for democratizing data. An enterprise gets the most value when information is presented in a standardized way. Cataloging business rules, data dictionaries, and business definitions makes sure that users understand the data in the same way without confusion. Users also want to know where this data is coming from, along with the meaning of data elements. Information— like flow of data through multiple systems, or lineage of data sources at a granular level[mdash]need to be analyzed by analysts to make sure that meaning and understanding of data is the same as intended.
For example, the Azure platform, Azure DevOps is an example of sharing codes. Data definitions or business glossary are managed through Azure data catalog at the enterprise level. Sharing data outside the organization can be done through the Azure data share tool from the Azure technical stack. As a part of data democratization, the preceding tools are used for sharing the data for the purpose of increasing innovation.