Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 49 | Page 48

CIO OPINION
CIOs have reached a critical point .
parts of the system – and this is why enterprises need to make a step-change in their decision-making process .
Even if an organisation has no data silos , how can they trust that all their information is accurate or fully up to date ? There is always the problem of human error . Even though human judgement is important for decisionmaking , it ’ s not always best to rely on it completely . Of course , some human insight is still beneficial and can complement a data-driven platform ’ s decision-making capabilities by helping to picture the collected data , for example . But overall , digital platforms dramatically increase the accuracy of the decision-making processes . This is where data-driven systems such as Enterprise Architecture come in handy , to overcome the challenges that may occur due to human error .
The role of Enterprise Architecture
When properly implemented , Enterprise Architecture will portray every aspect of a firm ’ s technology and strategy , as well as the relationships between these different elements , enabling impact analysis . Additionally , Enterprise Architecture is ideal for the governance of data , ensuring that data collection and processing has standard rules and procedures , providing a single source of truth for all enterprise data .
Decision-making is not just about being able to make the right choices , but also identifying the most crucial decisions to make for your enterprise . It is vital for companies to have the availability of up-to-date , accurate data across all sections of the business . Enterprise Architecture data systems will help identify any gaps and how individual choices may benefit an organisation ’ s overall business strategy . Enterprises that use data-driven Enterprise Architecture systems to make decision choices are 77 % more likely to excel in meeting their business targets .
Enterprise Architecture is one of the most effective tools companies can use to truly understand and oversee their enterprise ’ s infrastructure , and ultimately help CIOs strategise their business . According to Gartner , 52 % of its staff questioned stated smarter decisions and investments were made once they incorporated Enterprise Architecture . It can help clearly identify various links and relationships between different parts of the organisation , as well as collect , govern and process all types of data . By identifying any changes beforehand , Enterprise Architecture helps businesses understand the impact of change and therefore is an ideal solution for the decision-making process .
The bottom line
For a company to deliver value , decision-makers need complete visibility over the organisation and need to know the potential impacts of their decisions . Without fast and accurate data , guesswork or delays will foil a CIO ’ s ability to enable informed decisions .
With the help of Enterprise Architecture , CIOs can make informed , data-driven decisions in real-time , leading companies to overall business success . p
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