Human-Systems Exploration (HSE) in Enterprise Architecture (EA): Implementing a Framework to Enhance Organizational Lifecycle (OLC) Management

Abstract: Organizational lifecycle (OLC) management encompasses the creation, modification, and exchange of information throughout all phases of production. Although this effort has historically relied on project management (PM), the incorporation of technical personnel promises to increase the accuracy and reliability of the required tasks and deliverables. As organizations rapidly scale their digital footprint, an opportunity to enhance cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration is presented. Leveraging an enterprise architecture (EA) is a relatively new technique that provides a framework across domains including, but not limited to, operations, personnel, resources, and security. In respect to personnel, capturing all relevant information in an accessible repository assists PM with resource allocation based on factors such as the competencies, roles, and responsibilities of individual team members. This paper will evaluate implementation of the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) for a small company as a real-world case study assessing the potential benefits. The UAF builds on the Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) with the intent to include additional domains and viewpoints. In parallel with current trends, the UAF is amenable to model-based systems engineering (MBSE) which supports traceability and re-usability throughout the solution architecture lifecycle phases. Transferring document-based procedures into a virtual environment is not expected to demonstrate significant value. However, the traceability between entities enabled by MBSE will provide insights regarding the human aspect of the OLC so that operational decisions consider the entire organization and downstream effects. Leveraging the UAF to define the internal structure and processes of an organization while acknowledging personnel, the individual needs of employees, and their distinct capabilities demonstrates a progressive approach to human resource management (HRM) by integrating these facets into the holistic architecture.

Keywords: human-centered design, lifecycle modeling, model-based systems engineering, unified architecture framework

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007002

Cite this paper:

​