Dragon1 Visual Enterprise Architecture Textbook

This textbook offers people around the globe a new and unique approach to designing and realizing Enterprise Architecture and Integral Solutions much more visually and effectively at a strategic level.

Target Audience

Dragon1 is well suited for anyone interested in working with architecture, both as members of projects or participants in planning the architecture of the enterprise.

The book serves as a textbook for MBA and Informatics students. Students of Dragon1 can tackle complex issues by creating SMART architecture visualizations. These, in turn, create a common understanding among stakeholders leading to realistic strategic decisions by CxOs and management.

Dragon1 Textbook (1st edition) prepares architecture professionals for the 'Dragon1 Foundation' examination.

Here is more information on Dragon1 Foundation training course and level 1 certification.

What is the textbook about?

The big question is - how can enterprise architects and managers use Enterprise Architecture at a strategic level to effectively control the risks inherent in enterprise transformation? This textbook addresses this question in a structured way using the Dragon1 Open EA Method.

Dragon1 has rediscovered and adopted the power of architecture visualizations and design books to provide decision support to owners/clients analogous to the methods used in the field of building architecture. This textbook highlights the added value of Enterprise Architecture using this metaphor.

Dragon1 is built on the premise that Enterprise Architecture is all about visual design and realization of all architecture domains (i.e. business architecture, information architecture, technical architecture, and solution architectures). Architects design total concepts for various enterprise domains and solutions aligned with the enterprise’s strategic vision to deliver value-add support in business transformations and IT innovations.

A benefit of using the Dragon1 EA Method?

Realistic visualizations of current and planned architecture is a powerful technique for owners/clients, stakeholders, users, program managers, and specialists to reach a common understanding (insights and overview) of architecture analysis and design within a short time as needed to realize and implement integrated and sustainable (future proof) business IT solutions.

More about the textbook

Dragon1 provides an Enterprise Architecture framework of guiding principles, a consistent glossary of defined architecture terms, reference models, an extensive library of symbols, and several defined professional products.

In Dragon1, principles are about the way things work; architectures are designed as total concepts and architects are the creative designers of an integrated solution. With this approach, Dragon1 offers a full palette of practical aids including checklists, templates, symbols, and design rules. Reference models in the Dragon1 EA Framework are available to quickly define one’s own Enterprise Architecture.

This textbook is structured to show the ‘Ways’ and the 'Dragon1 Open Standards' of the method, followed by practical examples using Dragon1. The 'Way of Thinking' and the 'Way of Representing' are discussed in great detail to explain the process-oriented and product-oriented approach of Dragon1. The chapter on the 'Way of Representing' is of particular importance because it describes how the visualization of architecture governance design and realization is a key success factor in Enterprise Architecture and Integral Solutions.

This textbook plays an important role in inspiring everyone who is involved in working with architecture to apply this new Enterprise Architecture methodology much more effectively at a strategic level.

Dragon1 as EA Tool and EA Method

Dragon1 is both an Enterprise Architecture Tool and an open EA Method.

This textbook about the open enterprise architecture development method is very useful in creating visualizations in a tool, especially when using the Dragon1 Enterprise Architecture Tool.