Enterprise Architecture, ITIL, and the Architectural Role of Asset Management

ITIL, the Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is a framework built on best practices for managing IT service delivery.

It defines three types of practices:

1. General Management
2. Service Management
3. Technology Management 

None of this obviously points to Enterprise Architecture. So why start here?

Why Talk About ITIL in a Discussion of Enterprise Architecture?

One possible answer is that ITIL includes something called Architecture Management within the first practice area, General Management.

Let’s explore that. 

Architecture Management in ITIL

Here’s how ITIL defines Architecture Management: 

Architecture Management is the practice of providing an understanding of all the different elements that make up an organization and how those elements interrelate, enabling the organization to effectively achieve its current and future objectives.

Pretty high level, right?

But there’s more. . . 

Stated Objectives of ITIL Architecture Management

Here are a few of the key objectives, as defined by ITIL, for managing architecture:

1. Define and maintain architecture models.
2. Ensure architectures are aligned with business goals.
3. Guide decisions on standards, roadmaps, and technology adoption.
4. Support risk management through architectural insight.
5. Enable consistent design and integration of services, platforms, and capabilities.

I think this is too general and conceptual to be insightful. So, no, Architecture Management, as defined by ITIL, is not why we’re covering ITIL at this point.

But there is one ITIL practice that’s highly relevant when defining an Enterprise Architecture function.

IT Asset Management as an Architectural Concern

That practice is IT Asset Management. It deals directly with what Enterprise Architecture is ultimately responsible for understanding, governing, and evolving and can be used as a structural overlay.

We will explore that next in the article IT Asset Management as an Architectural Discipline.

Notes:
1. Headline image generated by Gemini, ChatGPT, and TEC-IT.