Data architecture assessment inventories and categorizes system data stores, documents existing data architecture, and compares current to target data architecture requirements. Specific objectives of this task include:
· Categorize and inventory physical data stores by system within business area
· Summarize attributes of current database/data file environment
· Assess functional interchange of data across business area boundaries
· Summarize current data architecture findings
· Define variances between current data architecture to target data architecture
The entrance criteria for the data architecture assessment task are listed below.
· Unless otherwise indicated by a specific Comsys-TIM scenario, completion of the Enterprise Analysis Planning task
· Completion of Technical Architecture Assessment task or specific steps within that task based on the scenario driving the analysis
· Access to management personnel and subordinates as needed to inventory application data stores
· Senior management sponsorship required to interview staff and complete data architecture analysis
· Security access to production and non-production libraries as needed to inventory system data stores
· Understanding of future data architecture requirements to support data architecture transition planning efforts
The personnel and skill requirements necessary to meet the data architecture assessment task objectives are identified below.
· Redevelopment Expert
- Ability to facilitate, analyze and record enterprise level data architecture assessment issues and results
· Current Systems Expert
- Subject matter expert with high-level knowledge of data utilization for selected business areas
· Data Administrator/DBA
- Ability to identify primary data structures that cross application functional boundaries
· Repository Administrator
- Subject matter expert with knowledge of repository modeling techniques
The system components and related inputs required to initiate and complete the Data Architecture Assessment task are listed below.
· Enterprise Summary Form 040 as completed in Enterprise Analysis Planning and Technical Architecture Assessment tasks.
· For Language Level Upgrade efforts, Enterprise Summary Form 040B - Language Upgrade Supplement as completed in Technical Architecture Assessment task.
· Blank copy of Business Area/Data Store Matrix Form 041.
· Enterprise Redevelopment Assessment work plan.
· Available technical assessment results showing links between system executable modules and physical data stores - includes control language or on-line tables depicting physical file name to executable name.
Warning: The following deliverables are required to assess current & target data architecture variances as defined in the last step of this task.
Target data architecture requirements as follows:
Note: The following inputs may be obtained from the Information Strategy Plan (ISP) information architecture definition.
· Description of strategic entities and relationships
Note: Entity relationship diagram is useful, but not critical, since many organizations have not completed or have no plans to complete an enterprise data model.
· Entity relationship diagram addressing the span of the enterprise being assessed
· Entity types involved in business function matrix
· Organization unit to entity type matrix
· Business area to data store
· Entity type to data store
· Recommended technical architecture (also a Technical Architecture Assessment input)
Note: Any other ISP deliverables, completed during current systems assessment, that can assist in documenting legacy data stores and business area relationships will streamline completion of this task.
Technologies supporting the Data Architecture Assessment task include environmental analyzer, spreadsheet, open systems repository, strategic planning and word processing tools. These tools are used to represent information as required by this task.
Environmental analyzer
The main role that the environmental analyzer plays within this task is to rapidly and automatically inventory physical data stores and their relationship to other system objects. Automated cross reference analysis, recommended in the Technical Architecture Assessment task, is extended into this task.
This includes identification of all physical data stores linked to a given system through execution analysis for batch job control, on-line control table or similar execution language analysis.
Due to the high-level analysis required for this task and the fact that the majority of legacy systems being analyzed during an enterprise assessment are mainframe based, only mainframe based environmental analyzers are referenced under each step of this task.
Open systems repository
A repository provides an important, yet optional, capability to link systems to physical data stores using a formal model. Loading this legacy transition meta-data into a repository during an enterprise-wide assessment provides an easily referenced, summary view of the current enterprise. It also forms the basis for subsequent analysis and planning efforts in later enterprise assessment tasks and the Inventory/Analysis stage.
Requirements include the ability to reflect system components as objects within the repository model and populate that model from a legacy environment. A recommended legacy transition meta-model supporting this analysis is shown in the Appendix section of the Comsys-TIM product. A secondary, and optional, requirement involves accepting an automated load format based on tools that parse and analyze legacy environments.
Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet tools offer a convenient format for recording much of the information gathered throughout this stage. Comsys-TIM Form 040 has been pre-loaded into certain spreadsheet tools (see the step level tool guidelines for specific tools) to facilitate data entry and analysis. While highly desirable, spreadsheets are not essential to this task.
Strategic planning tool
Steps within this task discuss how to derive a subject area model that represents a high-level view of the current data architecture. An I-CASE planning tool that supports data modeling certainly fills this tool requirement.
The specific tools included here, however, reflect the enterprise nature of this task. They represent business planning tools that may be used in business re-engineering efforts or related, strategic planning endeavors. These same tools are referenced in the Business Architecture Assessment task for consistency and meta-data integration.
Word processor
Word processing tools support narrative development and supplement form development in the absence of spreadsheet technology.
The Data Architecture Assessment task is comprised of the following task steps:
