“It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top”
-HENRY WARD BEECHER
Your company is advised to build an automation of company’s core capabilities by investing into IT infrastructure and digitized business processes. One of key disciplines to build foundation for automation is to decide on operating model, which is the necessary level of business process standardization for delivering products and services to customers.
You are convinced that focusing on the operating model rather than on individual business strategies gives a company better guidance for developing business and IT capabilities, however you can’t see full picture – overall business and IT environment – to facilitate decision making on which operating model to choose.

Architecture blueprinting
An enterprise architecture blueprint shows how the architecture enables business objectives by providing a holistic business and IT view. It guides to improved information integrity, reduced product and business process redundancy as well as development of new applications by explaining how IT deliver on the company’s operating model.
The key to effective enterprise architecture is to identify products and services lines, core business processes, IT systems, organization and partnership that move an operating model from vision to reality. The following framework facilitates visualization of mentioned areas in one page diagram, which can also be extended as multilayer, navigable model.

The role of the one-page holistic view on architecture is to help facilitate discussions between business and IT managers to clarify requirements for the company’s vision. In the process of populating an enterprise architecture blueprint, management must decide what is really core to the company.
Use Architecture as a Compass and communication tool
Enterprise architecture should guide companies to greater coherence. A one-page diagram of the enterprise architecture can act as a compass accessed by managers to resolve differences of opinion about next steps in building organizational capabilities. The objective of the enterprise architecture is not so much to achieve a particular end state as it is to serve as a blueprint for the company’s direction.