Our Architects and Designers are skilled in a variety of techniques and can apply their deep knowledge of their area to alternative methods to meet client needs. However, if a client does not have a chosen EA framework then we recommend TOGAF, and we produce ​models in the Archimate modelling language​ due to its ease of use by both technical and non-technical audiences. In order to produce a balanced operating model, we focus on people, process, data and technology.​

Ways of working​

Alongside those formal techniques, our architects and designers apply a common set of principles to ensure they deliver value, including:​

• Start from the business: Our Business Architects are just that – business architects. All have a deep knowledge of technology, and often have an IT background, but they all design from a business-first perspective. We believe effective architecture is based on aligning to business needs. Design should not be an isolated IT activity.​
• No reinventing the wheel: We can help produce standards and guidelines, but usually you’ll have things in place you’ll want us to use – we don’t see our job as persuading you to switch to a new method​
• Data primacy: Despite recent improvements, it remains the case that data is often an underappreciated asset. Our considerable experience with GDPR means that we design with data in mind from the beginning, often unlocking opportunities and improving MI, while complying with necessary standards.​
• Collaboration: We have found that Architecture, more even than Change Management, is a collaborative exercise. Our people can drive through change fast given the remit, but Architecture is about choosing where to drive and that cannot be done without you.​
• Design preferences: We will align to your company policies but when we get down to solution and system design we lean towards: open source code, cloud solutions and browser based end user interfaces. We believe these choices reduce your total cost of ownership.​