Taters, Turkey, and TP Anyone?

 

(Radio buzz) Ahh, Houston, we have a problem… we are out of turkey and Aisle 26 needs more toilet paper.

 

Worried about shortages in holiday gathering supplies? Now more than ever, business architecture has a role to play.

I heard it on the news (the real news on TV), expect shortages in the supplies you need to host holiday gatherings*. 

I do not want to start hoarding or stampeding, but as the host of the family Thanksgiving, I am getting a head start on determining the head count and assigning outside dishes so the people can plan.  To make room in a freezer for an early turkey purchase, somebody needs to eat down their frozen dinners and ice cream, and one must provide time for that to happen.

 

And, my family does a lot of baking… we all remember the great yeast shortage of 2020.  While others are focused on Halloween candy, I am getting my pantry stocked with supplies to make bars, cookies, and candy.

 

The logistics and supply chains associated with my household are much more complex than they used to be.

 

While I keep wanting the pandemic to be over, one of the ways it keeps circling back is in the form of supply chain issues.

 

Other than Business Architecture class, I did not pay much attention to supply chain theory, but now, my life is daily affected by the supply chain.

 

I suppose it always was affected daily by the supply chain but in a positive way.  I could go to a store or restaurant and get whatever I wanted or needed as long as I had money to pay.

 

That is no longer the case.

 

As I stood 15th in line at Fleet Farm last Friday with my weekend DIY project items (only 2 registers open because there were not enough employees), I noted a missed profit opportunity because all the “impulse-buy” racks were empty.  Was the product sitting…

  • in the back waiting for an employee to stock?
  • at a distribution center waiting for a driver?
  • on the cargo ship waiting in line for a loading dock?
  • at the factory waiting for wrappers?
  • in pieces needs waiting for ingredients still trying to be procured?
  • All of the above?

Note: It was a long wait, so long that the guy behind me had time to rethink his impulse buy and return his bag of candy corn to the bin.   Ray of sunshine that there was a giant bin of candy corn?

 

Now more than ever it is important for those who manage the supply chain to make sure they understand business needs and that the business understands customers’ needs.

 

Now more than ever, business architecture has a role to play.

A motto of good business architecture is that it should solve a business problem, and the current supply chain issues are giving plenty of opportunity for problem-solving.

 

 

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Back to Business (RTO) Through a Business Architecture Lens – Past Webinar

Past Expert Insights Webinar

Watch Video Here

Returning To the Office?

This question is so prevalent, it has an acronym – RTO.

Apply business architecture concepts and tools to RTO.

A look at the COVID pandemic’s impact on corporations and the digital economy through the lens of business architecture.

What PPE do you need?  Considering vaccination?  What are the requirements from your company to manage this?  What are your requirements?

Join us for a webinar to see what challenges corporations have in providing a safe workspace for their employees.

What will interaction (team meetings, seating, etc) between employees be like?  How will companies manage PPE needs?   How will vaccination/testing requirements be managed?

Share in the dialogue as we look at how companies continue adapting infrastructure capabilities as they manage both customer and employee experience in the digital economy in hyperdrive due to the pandemic.

Learn More About:

  • RTO readiness and capability maturity
  • Employee and Customer Experience
  • Architecture and Design in Pandemic Environment
  • Impact on the Digital Economy

PRESENTER: Bao Do

By day Bao Do is a business architect for Wells Fargo leading their RTO efforts.  In his spare time, he teaches in the Metro State Business Architecture Program.

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Business Architecture at the Speed of Business – Past Webinar

Previously Recorded Webinar

Watch the Video Here

2020 demonstrated the criticality of a business’s ability to pivot and respond to a rapidly changing environment.  Business strategies are now fluid, and business architects need to adapt.  The session will focus on practical tips and methods for how business architects can take the tools in their toolbox and hit the turbo button to keep up with the world around them.

 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Dean Heltemes is the Senior Director of Business Architecture in Advisor Technology Solutions for Ameriprise Financial.   He is well-known in the Twin Cities for his business architecture expertise from his role as a Business Architect instructor at Metropolitan State University and from serving on the board of the Twin Cities Business Architecture forum.

 

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Standing Up a Business Architecture Practice Part 1: Your Value Proposition – Past Webinar

Past Expert Insights Webinar

How do you stand up a business architecture practice within an organization?

This 3-part Expert Insights Webinar Series will provide strategies used by Maureen Mathias to stand up a practice in her organization.

This first session in the series covers the basics that must be established before even starting to think about a formal business architecture practice.

Discover how to use business architecture techniques to define questions with a value proposition that will define the value that your practice will bring your organization.

Other takeaways for attendees:

  • Essential infrastructure and requirements for standing up a practice
  • How to develop your internal presentation to get buy-in

WATCH THIS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED WEBINAR HERE

Standing Up a Business Architecture Practice Part 1: Your Value Proposition

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Maureen Mathias


Maureen Mathias earned her Master of Arts from Rutgers University, later adding a Certified Business Architect from the Business Architecture Guild and a Business Architecture Certificate from Metro State University in St. Paul Minnesota.

Maureen started a journey in 2008 that led to a career as a business architect. “Through the journey, it seems I have hit every situation you would want to avoid. One thing that stands out, is that a business architecture practice anywhere must fit the culture and the needs of an organization.”

In her business architect role for an insurance company, she has established training for the teams that utilize architecture tools and for those that need to learn what business architecture is and how it relates to their day-to-day responsibilities for several years.

Maureen is excited to share her experience: what works and what does not as well as learn from the experiences of other business architects.

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Does Your Company Need More Convincing to Send You to Business Architecture Certification Training?

Since Business Architecture is still a relatively new concept, your organization may be hesitant to commit.

Here are some FAQ’s to help you persuade them to let you take Biz Arch Boot Camp.

Q1 – You do not have the title or role of “Business Architect;” why would you need a Business Architecture certificate?

A1 – Just like millions of people who daily use project management tools as part of their jobs without the title of Project Manager, your company can benefit from the immediate use of the techniques and concepts learned in our Business Architecture certification course.

Q2 – What does Business Architecture do?

A2 – It solves problems: at a department level, a division level, or (ideally) an enterprise level.  Unless your organization is problem-free, you can use the tools and concepts in your work.

Q3 – Is there sometimes a disconnect between your company’s current execution and operational practices and its strategic vision?  

A3 – The unique Business Architecture techniques you learn in our course will help with that.

Q4 – Does your organization sometimes roll out initiatives that miss the mark with those who use them?   They create less value than anticipated, or worse, actually decrease the value for your customers because the correct people were not consulted before the change?

A4 – Our Business Architecture tools teach you how to keep this from happening in the future.

Q5 – Does your organization have more improvements and initiatives than it has resources to invest in?

 

A5 – Yes, Business Architecture can teach you tools to help your company prioritize your resources.

Do not wait for the official title.   Do not wait for the official department.  Start using Business Architecture today because basically…

Business Architecture solves business problems!

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BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE FOR THE SOCIAL SECTOR – FREE WEBINAR

Register Now For Our Upcoming FREE Expert Insights Webinar

Title: Beyond Business – Business Architecture for the Social Sector

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

12pm-1pm CENTRAL TIME

Join IPD Instructor Bao Do as he discusses the response of various countries around the world to COVID-19 and how pandemic management capabilities highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each country’s reaction.

  • Use business capability mapping to provide a means of early detection.

  • Consider how the maturity of business capabilities can lead to a more rapid response.

REGISTER NOW

Registration Must Be Completed By June 2, 2020

Oops! We could not locate your form.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Bao Do

Expert Areas:

  • Business Architecture
  • Business Analysis
  • Program/Project Management
  • User-Centered Design
  • Coaching/Mentoring/Development

Education/Professional Certificates:

  • Business Architecture Certificate from Metropolitan State University – St. Paul, MN
  • Certificate of Human-Centered Design from LUMA Institute
  • Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from University of Michigan
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Dean Heltemes

 

 

Dean Heltemes

Expert Areas:

  • Business Architecture | Enterprise Architecture | Business Process Management
  • IT and Business Strategy Development | Strategy to Execution Planning | Collaboration with C-Level Executives
  • Global Team Building and Leadership | Large-Scale Budget Creation and Management
  • IT Infrastructure and Operations Leadership | ERP Modernization | IT Contract Negotiation
  • Program and Project Management | Sales Enablement
  • Industry Experience in Financial Services, Agribusiness, Commodity Trading, Energy, & Food Processing

 

Education/Professional Certificates:

  • Business Architecture Certificate from Metropolitan State University -St. Paul, MN
  • MBA from Carlson School of Management at University of MN
  • Bachelor of Science – Computer Science from St. Cloud State University

 

Relevant experience to topic areas:

  • Writer for the Business Architecture Institute
  • Builder of business architecture teams and programs
  • Practitioner of business architecture
  • Solution architecture
  • Enterprise architecture

 

Philosophy of training in a nutshell:

I believe that a blend of different teaching techniques is the best way to help people of different learning styles understand and apply new concepts.  I like to use storytelling and interactive group discussions to stimulate learning, coupled with hands on exercises to let people apply what they have learned.

 

Why instructor is excited about teaching at Metro State:

I am passionate about what business architecture can do and am thrilled at the opportunity to help people learn this exciting discipline at Metro State.  I love sharing my experiences and helping people to learn, and I know I will gain new insights from the class.

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Business Architecture In Uncertain Times – Past Webinar (May 2020)

“Business Architecture In Uncertain Times”

An Expert Insights Webinar From the Metro State Institute for Professional Development

Originally Aired: May, 2020

This presentation covers:

How Business Architects Can Help Their Companies Navigate Through Uncertainty

  • Learn tools that guide tactical and strategic decision making in a dynamic environment

  • Prepare for future business architecture changes

Click Here To Watch:

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Dean Heltemes

Expert Areas:

  • Business Architecture | Enterprise Architecture | Business Process Management
  • IT and Business Strategy Development | Strategy to Execution Planning | Collaboration with C-Level Executives
  • Global Team Building and Leadership | Large-Scale Budget Creation and Management
  • IT Infrastructure and Operations Leadership | ERP Modernization | IT Contract Negotiation
  • Program and Project Management | Sales Enablement
  • Industry Experience in Financial Services, Agribusiness, Commodity Trading, Energy, & Food Processing

Education/Professional Certificates:

  • Business Architecture Certificate from Metropolitan State University -St. Paul, MN
  • MBA from Carlson School of Management at University of MN
  • Bachelor of Science – Computer Science from St. Cloud State University
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Your Organization Needs Business Architecture

Why Your Organization Can Use Business Architecture

Since business architecture is an emerging discipline, you may be hesitant to commit to paying for someone at your organization to attend business architecture training.  Here are 5 reasons why your investment would be wise.

Business architecture concepts can be used every day to help your organization grow and prosper.

Even if you do not have the role of  “Business Architect” at your organization, having people who understand business architecture will still be a benefit. Just like millions of people use project management tools as part of their daily jobs without the title of  “Project Manager,” your organization can benefit from the immediate use of the techniques and concepts learned in a business architecture certification course.

Business Architects are neutral problem-solvers that break down silos.

Business architects have tools that they can use at any point of a business problem to help business leaders and operational leaders define problems and solutions at a department level, a division level, or (ideally) an enterprise level. Business architects operate outside the silos that can hinder your organization’s ability to work cross-functionally toward one set of objectives.  Unless your organization is problem-free, you can use these skills and tools.

Business Architects draw the connection between where you are today and where you envision being in the future.

Besides tools, business architecture teaches people a new way of thinking.  It provides a lens that allows a business architect to ask the right questions that define a business strategy or growth opportunity and create the roadmap (literally, there are a variety of roadmaps) to show the way from the current state to future potential.

Business Architects get the strategy right the first time.

Do you sometimes roll out initiatives that miss the mark?   Do they create less value than anticipated, or do they actually make things worse for your customers?  Business architects learn about relationship management.  They find out who needs to be at the table and heard before strategic initiatives get speeding along in the wrong direction.

Business Architects help you prioritize resources.

Does your organization have more improvements and initiatives than it has resources to invest in? Business Architecture can help your company align its resources (people, data, technology, and processes) with what it needs to grow.

Do not wait for the official title. Do not wait for the official department. Do not wait to start using business architecture everyday in your organization because…

Business Architecture solves business problems!

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Bao Do

Quoc-Bao Do (goes by Bao)

Expert Areas:

  • Business Architecture
  • Business Analysis
  • Program/Project Management
  • User-Centered Design
  • Coaching/Mentoring/Development

 

Education/Professional Certificates:

  • Business Architecture Certificate from Metropolitan State University – St. Paul, MN
  • Certificate of Human-Centered Design from LUMA Institute
  • Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from University of Michigan

 

Relevant experience to topic areas:

  • 11+ years of Business Architecture
  • 15+ years of Business Analysis
  • around 10 years of Project Management
  • around 5 years of Design Thinking

 

Philosophy of training in a nutshell:

  • Form, Function, and Fit

 

Why instructor is excited about teaching at Metro State:

  • I am excited to be teaching and learning at a growing and innovative institution. Metro State is one the few colleges to offer a course in Business Architecture.
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