Service Detail

EA Foundation & Governance

We help you set up a practical, “just enough” Enterprise Architecture function: clear roles, guiding principles, and lightweight governance that keeps change aligned without slowing delivery.

Who this is for

CIOs, CTOs, heads of architecture, and transformation leads who want structure and consistency around technology decisions without building a heavy EA bureaucracy.

Typical triggers

• Multiple programmes running with little architectural reuse
• Conflicting decisions between domains or countries
• Cloud, data, and integration standards not yet defined

Engagement length

Most foundation engagements run between 4–8 weeks, depending on organisation size and stakeholder availability.

What we do in this engagement

• Clarify the purpose and scope of EA for your organisation (what EA owns, supports, and does not do).
• Design the EA operating model – roles, responsibilities, interfaces with projects and product teams.
• Co-create a concise set of architecture principles & guardrails grounded in your strategy.
• Set up a Design Authority / Architecture Board with simple workflows, RACI, and cadence.
• Define minimum artefacts & touchpoints (e.g. decision logs, reference architectures, solution outlines).
• Align with related practices: PMO, security, data, and delivery to avoid overlaps and confusion.

What you get as concrete outputs

• EA operating model (diagram + narrative) including roles, forums, decision rights.
• 6–10 crisp architecture principles mapped to business/tech drivers.
• Design Authority charter – scope, membership, intake process, and decision SLAs.
• Lightweight EA playbook (PowerPoint or PDF) for teams: “how to engage architecture”.
• 90-day implementation plan to embed the model without disrupting in-flight delivery.

Outcomes you can expect

Clarity

Everyone understands what EA does, when to involve it, and how decisions are made.

Consistency

Solutions follow the same principles and standards, reducing rework and surprises later.

Momentum

Governance supports delivery instead of blocking it — “just enough architecture”, not EA bureaucracy.

How we typically work with you

1. Discovery & context. Short interviews with key stakeholders (CIO/CTO, lead architects, PMO, security, product/engineering).
2. Co-design workshops. Joint sessions to shape operating model, principles, and governance — using real examples from your portfolio.
3. Draft & review. Nexinc writes the EA playbook and artefacts; you review, adjust, and sign off.
4. Pilot & refine. We run the first few Design Authority sessions together, fine-tune process and templates.

Discuss EA Foundation for your org

In a 45-minute discovery call, we’ll explore your current pain points and sketch what a “just enough” EA function could look like.

Schedule a Discovery Call

Or email us at info@nexinc.consulting.