Ever notice how some businesses seem to run just fine without a formal plan tying everything together? It’s a bit like a jazz band improvising—they’re making music, but sometimes the tune gets a little chaotic. Many organizations operate without Enterprise Architecture (EA), and while they might look successful on the surface, there’s often more happening behind the scenes.

Without EA, companies tend to rely on quick fixes, siloed decisions and ad hoc processes. This may work to a point, but as an organization grows, it can hit a wall. The quick fixes create a lack of stability, siloed decisions lead to duplicate platforms and re-work, and ad hoc processes leave gaps which can expose the organization to security threats. These are often hidden challenges. Some organizations are blissfully unaware of these challenges while others understand they have gaps, but don’t know what to do about it.

These issues might not seem critical at first, especially when the organization is small. But growth breeds complexity and the lack of a cohesive plan can limit your potential. It’s like trying to add new floors to a building without reinforcing the foundation—you might get away with it for a while, but eventually, things start to wobble.

Not having EA can also make it harder to adapt to change. In today’s fast-paced world, businesses need to pivot quickly. Without a clear architecture, implementing new technologies or processes becomes a bigger challenge, slowing down progress.

So, while organizations can operate without Enterprise Architecture, they might be setting themselves up for trouble down the road. Taking the time to build that solid foundation can make all the difference when it’s time to scale up or navigate new challenges.

Not sure if this applies to you?

Ask yourself or your team the following questions:

• Do we have a comprehensive and detailed inventory of our hardware, software and SaaS services?
• When we start a new IT project, do we understand how it aligns with our business goals along with the business outcomes of the project?
• Do we have a roadmap of projects we want or need to complete this year and next?

If the answers are vague, absent or unclear then yes, this applies to you.