Authors:
Ada Slupczynski
;
Peter Alexander
and
Horst Lichter
Affiliation:
Research Group Software Construction, RWTH Aachen University, Ahornstrasse 55, Aachen, Germany
Keyword(s):
Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Architecture Debt, Prudence, Recklessness.
Abstract:
Enterprise architecture (EA) debt represents a situation involving the declining quality of an EA in return for gains in other aspects. It accumulates through the sub-optimal architecture decisions made by the projects contributing to the EA. To avoid the reckless accumulation of EA debt, the impact of an architectural decision on EA debt and its prudence needs evaluation. However, as the scope of an EA debt issue tends to cover a wide range of systems and stakeholders, there may be different views on its prudence depending on the evaluation context. Failing to consider all relevant contexts may lead to reckless estimates and justifications for the EA debt. The analysis of prudence and recklessness exists in related fields of study (e.g., technical debt and financial debt). However, research has yet to explore the way to apply these concepts in EA debt management practices. Therefore, this study proposes a process for evaluating the prudence of EA debts, which we developed based on c
urrent insights about prudence and recklessness in related fields of study. Furthermore, we discuss some open questions and propose future research directions in this context.
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