Typically, school districts have maintained separate plans for technology and the district. For example, a district creates a “district education plan” and then has a separate “technology plan.” Moving forward, do you think this is still a good practice, or should they be combined?
Having separate plans goes against everything I have learned about an Enterprise Architecture (EA). A successful organization is built upon one plan that is well-organized with all areas of the structure in mind. Keeping all pieces of the architecture aligned to one goal is imperative in maintaining the structure's stability. Often the analogy of building a home is used when defining an EA. Taking that analogy into consideration, it is easy to see that you cannot separate the structure into two parts, as that will create an area of weakness in the structure. Considering two separate plans suggests a disconnect from one common goal or plan. How would they arrive to the same location while traveling different paths? An organization must first understand that technology is a necessary part of their organization.
Technology serves to connect an organization as it provides the necessary lines of communication throughout the entire structure. All areas must communicate to remain cohesive within one goal. Whether the communication is to the potential buyers, clients, or stakeholders it is what drives the organization. When I think specifically of an education system, technology is extremely important. Each department relies on a specific program or application to maintain the day-to-day business. For example, teachers start the morning by logging onto the system that collects attendance and lunch data which will be shared with the cafeteria staff in the cafeteria, as well as with the secretary in the office. As students log in to their online instructional courseware their progress is being collected and sent to teachers via email. All throughout the day communication is shared in similar situations which drive the movement towards the goals of the organization. Additionally, an educational organization relies greatly on data. As a matter of fact, with pride they proclaim just how "data-driven" they are. Collecting data means transferring it through some system which in turn communicates it across departments, and finally to stakeholders and families. Clearly, technology is an integral piece to an organizations success; therefore, it should not be treated separately, but rather as a necessary part of the whole moving along one path towards meeting a common goal.
Having separate plans goes against everything I have learned about an Enterprise Architecture (EA). A successful organization is built upon one plan that is well-organized with all areas of the structure in mind. Keeping all pieces of the architecture aligned to one goal is imperative in maintaining the structure's stability. Often the analogy of building a home is used when defining an EA. Taking that analogy into consideration, it is easy to see that you cannot separate the structure into two parts, as that will create an area of weakness in the structure. Considering two separate plans suggests a disconnect from one common goal or plan. How would they arrive to the same location while traveling different paths? An organization must first understand that technology is a necessary part of their organization.
Technology serves to connect an organization as it provides the necessary lines of communication throughout the entire structure. All areas must communicate to remain cohesive within one goal. Whether the communication is to the potential buyers, clients, or stakeholders it is what drives the organization. When I think specifically of an education system, technology is extremely important. Each department relies on a specific program or application to maintain the day-to-day business. For example, teachers start the morning by logging onto the system that collects attendance and lunch data which will be shared with the cafeteria staff in the cafeteria, as well as with the secretary in the office. As students log in to their online instructional courseware their progress is being collected and sent to teachers via email. All throughout the day communication is shared in similar situations which drive the movement towards the goals of the organization. Additionally, an educational organization relies greatly on data. As a matter of fact, with pride they proclaim just how "data-driven" they are. Collecting data means transferring it through some system which in turn communicates it across departments, and finally to stakeholders and families. Clearly, technology is an integral piece to an organizations success; therefore, it should not be treated separately, but rather as a necessary part of the whole moving along one path towards meeting a common goal.