Enterprise Architecture Office

The Enterprise Architecture Office is organizationally affiliated with the General Administration of Information Technology. However, its tasks, services, and operations—including governance and performance monitoring—are subject to the oversight and supervision of the Enterprise Architecture Governance Committee.

The following diagram illustrates the position of the Enterprise Architecture Office within the organizational structure, along with the defined functional roles that constitute the Enterprise Architecture Office, all of which report to the Enterprise Architecture Director.

Vision

Towards an enterprise architecture that supports an empowered, vibrant, and sustainable digital society.

Mission

To develop an integrated enterprise architecture by creating an effective and innovative digital environment that fulfills stakeholder aspirations in line with best practices.

Strategic Pillars

• Holistic Perspective
• Enhancing Process Efficiency
• Financial Sustainability
• Innovative Technology Services

Objectives

• Strategic alignment and fulfillment of digital transformation requirements
• Optimal resource utilization and improved operational efficiency
• Supporting decision-making and identifying strategic needs
• Rationalizing expenditure and increasing return on investment
• Enhancing user experience and improving stakeholder satisfaction

Core Tasks

These are the primary work activities directly linked to the objectives defined for the Enterprise Architecture practice. They include the essential responsibilities required to activate the expected role of the practice within the organization, in alignment with its goals and expectations:

• Develop and update the Enterprise Architecture strategy, including vision, mission, objectives, and roadmap.
• Ensure alignment of the Enterprise Architecture strategy with other organizational strategies, while prioritizing digital projects and initiatives based on continuous analysis of the current and future states.
• Develop the roadmap based on gap analysis between the current and target architecture, identifying initiatives required to achieve the future state.
• Manage, document, and update components of Business Architecture, Application Architecture, Data Architecture, Technology Architecture, Security Architecture, and Experience Architecture, while identifying continuous improvement opportunities for each component based on ongoing assessments.
• Ensure compliance with national Enterprise Architecture principles and standards to enhance the maturity of the practice.
• Support decision-making by providing a comprehensive view to decision-makers based on Enterprise Architecture reports covering all aspects (services, systems, infrastructure, resources).
• Ensure and support change management during the implementation of digital projects and measure its impact on the Enterprise Architecture practice.
• Analyze risks related to Enterprise Architecture and develop strategies to address potential risks through proactive and corrective solutions.
• Provide consultations and guidance on decisions related to Enterprise Architecture practices and related domains, as well as advisory support to organizational units in relevant areas.
• Monitor the integration of various technical systems with the Enterprise Architecture to ensure harmony between current and future systems.
• Study and analyze business services, document processes, and align business operations with technology.
• Contribute to improving spending efficiency across university sectors by leveraging technology to enhance business efficiency and increase productivity.
• Manage Enterprise Architecture requirements by collecting, documenting, and analyzing needs from different departments, ensuring alignment with architecture models and components to achieve integration and avoid conflicts between digital initiatives.

Supporting Tasks

These are work activities that facilitate or enable the team within the organization to execute the defined core tasks effectively. They include:

• Responsibilities related to managing the internal operations of the practice and ensuring effective execution of its activities.
• Support digital partnerships with external stakeholders, study emerging technologies in collaboration with experts, and identify technological opportunities that can be integrated into future projects to enhance innovation and achieve strategic objectives.
• Participate in drafting and reviewing technical specifications and requirements for IT projects launched by the university, and evaluate technical proposals to ensure compliance with Enterprise Architecture principles and standards.
• Review project deliverables to ensure compliance with approved designs and technical readiness before launch, then monitor and evaluate results post-implementation by measuring goal achievement and analyzing impact to ensure quality execution and continuous improvement.
• Promote Enterprise Architecture culture through ongoing awareness, effective communication, and organizing regular training programs.
• Analyze the current state of electronic services provided by the organization and identify improvement opportunities by assessing the current situation, evaluating user satisfaction, and identifying operational or technical gaps.
• Review exception requests for developing or automating electronic services outside the roadmap, ensuring responsiveness to changes while adhering to Enterprise Architecture standards and practices.

The Enterprise Architecture Strategy primarily relies on the National Enterprise Architecture Methodology (NORA), the national framework endorsed by the Digital Government Authority (DGA), to organize Enterprise Architecture practices in a manner that reflects the university’s business and IT reality and advances its objectives. The strategy will also leverage other methodologies, such as TOGAF.

• Define the scope and requirements of Enterprise Architecture within government entities.
• Support government entities in implementing Enterprise Architecture smoothly and effectively.
• Ensure the efficiency and quality of Enterprise Architecture and its deliverables within the government entity through consistent processes and recommendations.
• Align the government entity’s Enterprise Architecture directions and objectives with the National Enterprise Architecture and national execution plans to support a broader government-wide digital transformation.
• Facilitate the adoption of Enterprise Architecture and enhance awareness and capacity-building across government entities.