Some books earn their place on the shelf by being right early. Rechtin’s The Art of Systems Architecting, first published in 1991, challenged the engineering orthodoxy of its time by arguing that the front end of systems design and systems architecture is not simply a calculation—it is an art. Systems architecting begins with an ill-structured…
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AI is no longer a distant innovation—it’s rapidly becoming a foundational capability across enterprise systems. From intelligent automation and predictive analytics to customer personalization and decision support, AI is reshaping how modern organizations design and deliver value. For enterprise architects, this shift isn’t just a technical curiosity; it’s a strategic imperative. As architects, we’re responsible…
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In The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking: Leading Your Organization into the Future, Michael D. Watkins presents an actionable framework to help aspiring leaders learn to think strategically, a set of skills more necessary than ever in a world of constant change. And, I would add, a set of skills that are essential for modern…
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Sooner, Safer, Happier Review: Focusing on Outcomes for Success Have you ever noticed that so many projects seem to drag on and on, with no end in sight? Or that teams can get stuck spinning their wheels without making real progress? In his book Sooner, Safer, Happier, Jonathan Smart lays out a practical roadmap for…
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Architecture Modernization: Socio-technical Alignment of Software, Strategy, and Structure by Nick Tune and Jean-Georges Perrin In the realm of architectural modernization, where the future of businesses is continually shaped, this book serves as a comprehensive guide and a strategic roadmap to understand and navigate the challenges behind this transformative journey. Firstly, the book delves into…
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As enterprise architects, we work with many different stakeholders and with many different themes and issues. The enterprise architecture body of knowledge is huge and diverse. The body of knowledge of a profession is not the pile of dominant books and standards of said profession but should rather be understood as a ‘landscape of practice’…
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Communities of Practice Within and Across Organizations: A Guidebook by Etienne Wenger-Trayner, Beverly Wenger-Trayner, Phil Reid and Claude Bruderlein This guidebook is an indispensable resource for anyone with an interest in understanding and harnessing the power of communities of practice. Written by renowned experts in the field, it offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of…
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Our Book of the Month has as a central theme ‘double awareness’. That is, about maintaining a simultaneous focus on task and process – what we do and what we notice. As Svalgaard says, “double awareness is not only a core capacity but also a core challenge”. Svalgaard continues the argumentation from Donald Schön, who…
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Elephant in the Room: Engaging with the Unsaid in Groups and Organizations by Lotte Svalgaard Lotte Svalgaard’s book, “Elephant in the Room: Engaging with the Unsaid in Groups and Organizations,” offers a compelling exploration of the challenges surrounding difficult conversations in group settings. By delving into sensitive topics like power structures, and controversial decisions, Svalgaard…
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Security Architecture – How & Why? by Tom Madsen The author begins by stating that security has an important property that most people know about. However, only few pay any attention to it. The usual approach to cybersecurity, which consists of a checklist of technical and procedural controls typically fails. It happens because many people…
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