Abstract
Business architecture, in general, and capability mapping, in particular, have injected clarity into the complex business/IT transformation puzzle. The business capability provides the link between two complex, yet disparate, environments: business architecture and IT architecture. This Executive Report by William Ulrich and Michael Rosen discusses how capability mapping enables business analysis and business/IT architecture alignment. Among the topics discussed are capability mapping, IT architecture transformation, the use of capabilities to specify service-oriented architecture (SOA), and the transformation of core IT architectures.
Over the past several years, the business capability has moved to the front and center of business analysis and planning. As a view of a business, the robustness and versatility of the business capability has boosted its use within business planning teams, executive steering committees, business architecture teams, and business/IT transformation initiatives. This Executive Report discusses why the business capability has emerged as the "Rosetta Stone" for business communication and collaboration and, more specifically, business/IT alignment (see sidebar). As a key aspect of business transformation efforts, the business capability serves as an essential communication medium between a business and an organization's ability to transform itself through the use of IT.