Tweets from Troux 2011 conference: day 1

Courtesy of a very active band of Tweeters – including Brenda Michelson, Todd Biske, Mike Walker and Aleks Buterman, we have a fairly comprehensive description of what’s been going on at the Troux users (enterprise-architecture) conference in Austin, Texas, on 23-24 March 2011.

I’ve edited slightly to remove most of the #Troux2011 and #entarch hash-tags; I’ve also added occasional comments of my own (in italics and preceded by ‘>’, >like this). There’s a lot of it, so I’ll put in a ‘Read more…’ break here.

  • toddbiske: Starting out in a session from Bill Cason, Troux CTO, on developing an IT Strategy.
  • toddbiske: Paraphrasing Bill Cason: IT strategy is about doing the right things. Solution Arch is about doing those things right.
  • toddbiske: Bill Cason: “We have to be able to understand the business context.” formally capture the goals and strategy.
  • toddbiske: Bill Cason: #entarch must be keeper of the business capability maps, allows for fact-based conversations. >agree, esp. at whole-of-org layers
  • toddbiske: Bill Cason: Business doesn’t care about the IT portfolio until you show them the risks, costs, and dependencies assoc. with it. // Bill Cason: Business executives will NEVER use EA models, but they need to outputs, provide it in a form that they want. // Bill Cason’s opinion: If you have more than 100 capabilities, you may have too many. He likes seeing 4-6 top level capabilities. // Bill Cason: Business wants PowerPoint, so we need to understand questions they need answered to get the right data/view
  • toddbiske: Troux 2011: How to Develop an IT Strategy to Accelerate Business Goals http://bit.ly/gWaLCN
  • trouxsoftware: Prescription for EA success:  “Find the pain, deliver the value.” .
  • trouxsoftware: Recurring theme from customers: Need to maintain quality  information about IT infrastructure and processes over time..
  • tallfiji: Listening to Strategy Management.  At #troux2011
  • TurnberryBK: Architects need to keep the business in mind.  Imagine.  Show measurable results early and often, or you could be in trouble.
  • russn: Would you rather network or gargle peanut butter?
  • bmichelson: Troux brought in networking help for us introverts @thomsinger  says we’d rather gargle peanut butter than network.  true dat!
  • toddbiske: Listening to @thomsinger talk about too many choices. 19,000 different combinations of coffee at starbucks…
  • toddbiske: @bmichelson where’s the peanut butter?  (and I’m tweeting this even though I’m sitting next to @bmichelson)
  • bmichelson: at #troux2011 that is …. this is a really well dressed group of #entarch / proof of the CIO track?
  • thinkovation: RT @bmichelson: at #troux2011 that is …. this is a really well dressed group of #entarch / proof of the CIO track? <- Or self delusion?
  • toddbiske: @thomsinger “People always mark that they come for the networking opportunities, but they stink at it.”
  • mattpricex: @toddbiske: Nice blog! Here’s the IT Strategy  slide from Bill Cason’s #troux2011 talk that you refer to. http://yfrog.com/h7cd9chj
  • bmichelson: hey @toddbiske and I are proof that #entarch types can network
  • trouxsoftware: Thom Singer: Social media has changed meaning of “knowing”  somebody. Not a process, but an event — and it’s not real..
  • mazzydan: Don’t cloud your social media.  Have a beer, lunch or talk with your “friends”. -The Power of Hello. Thom Singer
  • bmichelson: I think @thomsinger wants us to be existential “Why are you here” as networking opener…
  • toddbiske: Warren Ritchie, CIO for Volkswagen Group of America now on stage to talk about strategy management through #entarch
  • trouxsoftware: Warren Ritchie: If you can’t describe internal resource structure, can’t implement strategy..
  • toddbiske: Warren Ritchie: we cannot manage internal resources, products, and services as if they are independent things.
  • toddbiske: 30 minutes in to Warren Ritchie’s talk, and the focus has been on describing the organization, not IT assets.
  • trouxsoftware: Warren Ritchie: Start EA with “failure not an option” project to ensure relevance..
  • toddbiske: Great point from Warren Ritchie about making tacit knowledge explicit in an #entarch repository.
  • trouxsoftware: At VW of America, ROI on EA investment >100% on risk mitigation alone..
  • bmichelson: Warren Ritchie of VW: “Investment in EA is an investment in knowledge.”
  • toddbiske: Troux 2011: Strategy Management Through Enterprise Architecture http://t.co/VcMWFRY
  • toddbiske: “You don’t have to have a mandate to be a leader. Make the mandate and be the leader.”
  • trouxsoftware: Warren Ritchie: Never knew as much about the business till I came to IT..
  • bmichelson: new post: @ Troux Worldwide: Strategy Management Through Enterprise Architecture, Warren Ritchie, VW http://bit.ly/eBJXK4
  • twestbrockEA: Great keynote at #troux2011 by Warren Ritchie.  provides for implementation of formulated business strategy. #bizarch
  • toddbiske: It’s nice that the #troux2011 speakers so far are doing a good job in describing their business, not just their technology.
  • toddbiske: “Standards need to be an enabler, and marketed as such.”
  • thinkovation: RT @bmichelson: Kaiser #entarch started by focusing on standards.   <- I hope that was “standards and governance”?
  • chrisonea: RT @toddbiske: “Standards need to be an enabler, and marketed as such.” < Ask about #Principles 🙂
  • bmichelson: interesting quote “EA is supposed to be on cutting edge”. Gets to the #Entarch & innovation question.  #troux2011 please discuss.
  • mikejwalker: Make standards appealing, visual, dynamic and relevant to your audience for success – Kaiser #entarch
  • TurnberryBK: It’s not a straight road from current to future state. It’s treacherous, complicated, unforeseen turns, slopes…
  • trouxsoftware: For first time, Kaiser Permanente has ability to trim new applications, not just deploy them and add cost over time..
  • toddbiske: @bmichelson great anecdote. We must remember that we are marketing ourselves in everything we do.
  • leodesousa: @toddbiske @bmichelson I like “if you don’t practice #entarch you may feel the cutting edge”
  • mikejwalker: Kaiser redefining  EA standards to move from boring spreadsheets to visionary standards that rallies the enterprise
  • bmichelson: Cloud wash alert: we don’t use public clouds because of HIPAA, but we use ASPs.  repeat after me: “ASP is not Cloud”
  • toddbiske: hoping to meet someone else who has #entarch involved with product development, not just run the business IT at #troux2011.
  • toddbiske: demo gods be kind, Imran Qayyam from Cisco is going to try a live demo in his #troux2011 session
  • bmichelson: so, another oddity of #troux2011 (beyond the well dressed crowd) is the large number of women in attendance #entarchgirlpower
  • toddbiske: Good example of how a capability based view is valid even in a narrow domain of development services from Cisco.
  • bmichelson: Nice to see enterprise architecture evolve from documentation business, to business information provider
  • mikejwalker: Cisco able to demo the connection of strategy,  capabilities, roadmaps and technology decisions and implementation
  • bmichelson: Cisco demo of Troux shows power for technology investment management; however, discipline in data provisioning / refresh is key
  • bmichelson: RT @mikejwalker: If EA’s neglect inventorying SaaS or Cloud solutions your missing key elements – Kaiser
  • bmichelson: Cisco’s Troux implementation: Alignment, Optimization then Standards >i.e. levels 1-3 from maturity model in my ‘Doing EA’ book – are two more levels beyond that
  • bmichelson: Cisco goal for Troux is “business-technology management tool”
  • productmarketer: RT @brhubart: #entarch? You’re soaking in in it. @toddbiske risking CTS with his excellent coverage from #troux2011  http://ow.ly/4kQzD
  • toddbiske: RT @mikejwalker: EA Tools are only as good as the data that is put in them – Cisco   < +1
  • toddbiske: Troux 2011: Investing for the Future through Strategy and Architecture at Cisco Systems http://bit.ly/dR617A
  • aleksb6: Made it to #troux2011 and just found out that CA does #bizarch consulting w the #eppm tools. Sales #fail
  • russn: It only took 4 hours, but I’ve run into “that person” – the one who thinks they know more than the sw developers
  • mfoster2u: Great presentation by Cisco moving forward with great visibility of their enterprise.
  • mfoster2u: Getting ready to listen to Troux’s CEO “talk about results”.  It’s all about getting to the point.
  • mikejwalker: 350 attendees at  #troux2011
  • bmichelson: in talking digital product innovation at lunch w/@aleksb6 @mikejwalker & @toddbiske the general consensus was “follow the p0rn”
  • mikejwalker: Great lunch chat with @bmichelson @toddbiske @aleksb6 on EA industry
  • bmichelson: Dave Hood, CEO Troux: “I didn’t fall in love with EA at first sight”
  • aleksb6: great example of tribal self-selection at lunch – most of the panelists for “Great #entarch” at #troux2011 wound up at the same table!
  • aleksb6: So a good polymath chat on digital media [cc @bmichelson, @toddbiske], #entarch certs [cc @mikejwalker], and #value of #entarch
  • toddbiske: David Hood of Troux showed that the need for #entarch is increasing at a higher rate than EA maturity. We need to fill that gap.
  • trouxsoftware: Four principles of EA: Start with the end in mind, make it repeatable, make it easy to consume, and some help required..
  • bmichelson: Dave Hood: 4 principles EA success: start w/the end in mind, make it repeatable, make it easy to consume , some parenting req’d
  • aleksb6: Dave Hood at #troux2011 “I <3 EA” on 4 Guiding Tenets for #entarch success – 1: “start w end in mind” <- diff in practice to quantify “end”
  • mfoster2u: EA has to be aligned to CIO priorities/agenda.  It’s about supporting the business.
  • newtmitch: RT @RamilX: #troux2011 from one customer to another “how can we help you?”. Our (Troux’s) customers are the best.
  • aleksb6: Dave Hood at #troux2011:  “Visualizations can be beautiful” <- and visualizations here seems to imply “on the fly analytic models”
  • bmichelson: I like Troux focus on visualization (real data visualization) not boxes & lines. Communicate in human-friendly manner.
  • aleksb6: and cutaway to #entarch inventory viewpoint by cost visualization, something I am not a big fan of [ http://bit.ly/fbljFh]
  • aleksb6: Dave Hood at #troux2011 – “focus on consumption angle” <- how #ieee 1471 centric!
  • bmichelson: hmm, “lots of cynics” is Dave talking about @aleksb6 ? 😉
  • aleksb6: @bmichelson I’m a skeptic, not a cynic.  Can’t be an optimist and a cynic at the same time!
  • trouxsoftware: EA is necessarily change management..
  • aleksb6: mentor model for #entarch?  Mary Poppins!  “Discipline and a little bit of magic go a long way!”
  • mikejwalker: To Troux, EA = Business Technology Management >oh dear, thought we’d got past that years ago…
  • bmichelson: Dave Hood, Troux refers to #entarch as Business Technology Management.  Is this the re-branding we  need? #troux2011 Discuss amongst selves
  • aleksb6: a new #entarch #acronym from Dave Hood at #Troux2011: EA3 – Engage, Adjust, Adjust, Adjust… <- jazzy!
  • mfoster2u: Bill Cason, Troux CTO, showing new Troux 9.1 functionality at Troux Worldwide Conference.
  • aleksb6: @bmichelson #entarch is part of Biz/Tech Management, but #pfmo, #bizarch, and a bevy of other acronyms might claim a role, too! >@aleksb6: >more precisely, Biz/Tech Mgmt is merely one part of #entarch
  • aleksb6: @bmichelson besides, I heard that #BPM is at the core of Biz Tech Mgmt, not #entarch from a true #BPM adherent just yesterday
  • bmichelson: so @aleksb6 what is “Business Technology Management” depends on the church you sit in? #bpm
  • aleksb6: @bmichelson A dose of skepticism is healthy when vendors start having religious experiences about their products…
  • mikejwalker: Information driven and dynamic Business Capability Maps. Very slick
  • toddbiske: RT @bmichelson: I like Troux focus on (real data) visualization not boxes & lines. Communicate in human-friendly manner. #entarch
  • mikejwalker: The demo gods were good to Troux CTO
  • toddbiske: Troux 2011: Let’s Talk About Results http://bit.ly/fE0hO1

  • aleksb6: up next, Tim Davis of Oracle “you wonder what #oracle is doing at #troux2011?” <- uhmm, guessing next acquisition target?
  • russn: @aleksb6 acquisition is my guess although there is a Troux product being embedded in oracle
  • mfoster2u: Oracle talking about Results-Driven EA…a practical approach.
  • russn: Oracle late to the Enterprise Architecture game
  • mcgoverntheory: Should an Enterprise Architecture Tool cost a million bucks? How about an offering for small shops? #bizarch
  • RamilX: little company named Oracle both talks the talk and walks the walk of Business focused, pragmatic EA.
  • aleksb6: Tim Davis: #Oracle ‘s practical #entarch “If we have some time we can do things like governance..” <- coz discipline is optional?
  • mikejwalker: Business Architecture + Reference Models = “Money” – Tim Davis Oracle <- is that kinda like “Winning” 🙂
  • mikejwalker: “EA Principles = The Book you Pray On” – Tim Davis Oracle  <- extremely bold stmt
  • mikejwalker: Oracle EA leverages open industry frameworks like MIT Ops Mdl, Business Canvas Mdl and TOGAF to name a few

  • mfoster2u: Great talk and getting strategic with Mark Shultze of Manitowoc at the Troux Worldwide Conference.
  • russn: “The use of Troux is the cornerstone of business technology management and Enterprise Architecture” Tannia Dobbins,AMD
  • trouxsoftware: Cummins is at full Enterprise Architectutre — real enterprise, real architecture. .
  • toddbiske: Tannia Dobbins from AMD continually emphasizing the benefits they had through strong #entarch stakeholder backing.
  • toddbiske: more from Tannia of AMD: Follow the money, work with procurement to ensure #entarch involvement with tech purchases.
  • bmichelson: Cummins is recent Troux customer.  Purchased following modules:  Troux for TOGAF, Standards, Optimization & Alignment.
  • productmarketer: RT @BethpAtHP: UCMDB/Troux integration is getting good buzz at the Troux WW Conference!
  • toddbiske: very interesting that only now is AMD looking at supporting solution architecture with their EA repository.
  • bmichelson: @ Troux Worldwide: From Police to Partner: Transformation of EA at Cummins : Elemental Links http://bit.ly/f9CpUp
  • toddbiske: I like the monthly technology standards scorecard used by AMD, leveraging peer pressure to encourage compliance.
  • mikejwalker: Common Theme at #troux2011 : Grow into EA tool capabilities don’t try to implement all capabilities at one time
  • mikejwalker: Transparency -> RT @toddbiske: monthly tech stds scorecard used by AMD, leveraging peer pressure encourage compliance.
  • bmichelson: Another theme at #troux2011 is employing #entarch tools & discipline to LEAN the business-technology portfolio
  • bmichelson: I bet the total ‘keep-alive’ cost & value-loss of old systems exceeds cost & value gain of replacements // … assuming all of these redundant portfolios, that is. cobbling together 6-12 old systems to match value of new // we need a value-rating guide similar to energy rating guide to compare stasis versus replacement </ramble>
  • DeclanKenny: “If you can’t describe it you can’t manage it.” The challenge/beauty of defining an #entarch framework.
  • mfoster2u: Great first day at the Troux Worldwide Conference.  Partnerships creating and growing.
  • aleksb6: @bmichelson financials are good enuf, but i think we need a set of common criteria for valuation to thwart number “cooking”
  • aleksb6: heard several #value of #entarch studies at #troux2011 and wondering when this can be absorbed by #CIOs to become the “new normal”
  • bmichelson: what comes first? the Leaning of a business-technology portfolio, or the leaning of enterprise architecture practices?
  • toddbiske: Point from Bill of Troux: Part of #entarch’s job is to establish sustainable processes, regardless of how fast you build them.
  • pbmobi: real architecture IS innovating: this is your brain on architecture. http://bit.ly/h04MbU #entarch keeps talking e.g. at #Troux2011
  • toddbiske: From @mikejwalker: High performance for EA is about having a business conversation to maximize and amplify business results.
  • trouxsoftware: Herding enterprise  architects is harder than herding cats..
  • pbmobi: “architecture that ignores the everyday will be ignored every day.” (@jeremytill)
  • trouxsoftware: Almost all attendees report to IT, not the business. So are they technology architects, not enterprise, architects? . >exactly… using the wrong name for their discipline, and sabotaging the discipline that really is #entarch…
  • bmichelson: 4 #entarch pundits [@aleksb6  @mikejwalker  Tim Westbrock, Paul Preiss] on stage, 489 opinions.
  • russn: @bmichelson adding enterprise architects always causes the number of opinions to increase exponentially
  • bmichelson: hmm, can I build a technology-enabled business solution on an “architecture” that is just financial models? I say no. >strong agree
  • bmichelson: oh, semantic fight! a.k.a why enterprise architects get a bad rap
  • productmarketer: RT @toddbiske: Troux 2011: EA, ITSM, PPM, and CMDB Acronym Soup http://bit.ly/gtcSwYv
  • bmichelson: @ Troux Worldwide: Great Performances Panel : Elemental Links http://bit.ly/hpRBVL <– @aleksb6 @mikejwalker & more #entarch
  • itgEvangelist: Good day at the #Troux2011 conference today in Austin. Enjoyed sitting on the panel and answering questions about PPM, Svc Mgt, and Ent Arch // Interesting how many people and pundits have different views on the definition of “enterprise architecture.” Lively debates at #Troux2011.

  • thomsinger: Looking forward to my closing of the day presentation at #troux2011
  • toddbiske: Powerful story from @thomsinger on the power of a network. Thanks to #troux2011 for bringing him in, definitely worth it.
  • russn: tonight @thomsinger used a powerful (personal) story to show the power of networking

  • russn: for day 2 of #troux2011, let’s not have one person disregard the moderator during the panel discussions. Give the moderator teeth.
  • twestbrockEA: Impressions after Day 1 of #troux2011: Hi quality event, #entarch and #bizarch still misunderstood, but maturity and attention increasing.
  • mfoster2u: Highlights Day 1 of  Troux Worldwide Conference:  http://www.elementallinks.com/2011/03/23/troux-worldwide-conference-austin-tx/

More to follow tomorrow – many thanks indeed to all those who Tweeted above!

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