Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Architecture: Survey, Taxonomy, and Solutions

Peter Hillmann, Lovis Justin Immanuel Zenz, Andreas Karcher

2025

Abstract

Enterprise architecture (EA) is a critical key competence in the organization, adaptation and improvement of companies. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze critical success factors associated with EA projects and EA management. In particular, the interrelationships of critical factors as key components were examined. Therefore, we present the first taxonomy of key factors in EA providing an overview of the major areas to be addressed. The assessment revealed five major challenges: communication problems, limited top management support, insufficient EA expertise, ineffective knowledge management and inadequate requirements management. Based on these findings, a comprehensive compilation of strategies was develop encompassing preventative guidelines and reactive approaches. It provides practical recommendations for overcoming the identified obstacles. The measures developed were integrated along the project life cycle with reference to organizational processes, in particular with a focus on change management and controlling. Practical recommendations were tested in expert interviews and business game for their effectiveness.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Hillmann P., Zenz L. and Karcher A. (2025). Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Architecture: Survey, Taxonomy, and Solutions. In Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems - Volume 2: ICEIS; ISBN 978-989-758-749-8, SciTePress, pages 793-803. DOI: 10.5220/0013134500003929

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iceis25,
author={Peter Hillmann and Lovis Zenz and Andreas Karcher},
title={Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Architecture: Survey, Taxonomy, and Solutions},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems - Volume 2: ICEIS},
year={2025},
pages={793-803},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013134500003929},
isbn={978-989-758-749-8},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems - Volume 2: ICEIS
TI - Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Architecture: Survey, Taxonomy, and Solutions
SN - 978-989-758-749-8
AU - Hillmann P.
AU - Zenz L.
AU - Karcher A.
PY - 2025
SP - 793
EP - 803
DO - 10.5220/0013134500003929
PB - SciTePress