BUS362: Enterprise Architecture (EA) at American Express was the Framework the Organization: IT-Enabled Business Transformation Assignment, SUSS, Singapore

Case Study

Enterprise architecture (EA) at American Express was the framework the organization used to align IT and the business. EA provided a common language for leaders to use to collaborate and transform the business.

At American Express, enterprise architects were the change s who streamlined processes and designed ways to more effectively do business using IT resources. In 2011, the American press was named an InfoWorld/Forrester EnterpdiArchitecture Award recipient for its EA practices.

As American Express leaders considered new payment methods using mobile devices, the EA guided their progress. Mobile payments were forcing the payments industry to review their practices and significantly transform the way business was done.

The new business environment introduced additional complexity with the addition of new delivery channels and the need for shorter time-to-market payment products and services.

American Express’s business strategy for its payments products focused on delivering a “consistent, global, integrated customer experience based on services running on a common application platform.”

Answer the following questions.

Question 1

• Using the silo versus business process perspective, appraise and identify the perspective adopted by American Express with justification through case facts.

(Word Limit: Maximum 350 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 10 marks)

• Formulate the relationships between strategy, architecture, and infrastructure by identifying the architectural configuration (centralized, decentralized, service-oriented architecture, and software-defined architecture) used by American Express with justification. Next, explain (with case facts) why American Express employed the specific architectural configuration that you have identified.

(Word Limit: Maximum 350 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 10 marks)

• Propose key architectural principles and managerial considerations by determining the two (2) most appropriate architectural principles of American Express. Explain your

(Word Limit: Maximum 350 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 10 marks)

• Examine the key activities of American Express by specifying the maturity level of the IT organization at American Express (a) currently; (b) in the future. Justify your answers with case facts.

(Word Limit: Maximum 350 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 16 marks)

• As American Express expands globally, analyze one (1) way in which national culture can affect American Express in its use of IT.

(Word Limit: Maximum 350 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 4 marks)

Question 2

• Recommend the strategic use of information resources by describing American Express’s value chain for the following primary activity — Operations and the following support activity — Human Resources.

(Word Limit: Maximum 200 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 6 marks)

• Infer the IT governance system that is in place at American Express by addressing the following questions:
• Explain two (2) of the four perspectives of IT governance.

(Word Limit: Maximum 200 words; Mark Allocation: Maximum 8 marks)

• Identify the IT governance that is employed by American Express. Explain your answer through case facts.
• Discuss the decision-making mechanisms of American Express by describing two (2) of them. Then recommend the one (1) that best fits American Express. Explain your answer.