A large bank has completed several acquisitions in the last few years that have resulted in redundant IT applications. To align with the strategic…

The core challenge is to rationalize redundant applications from multiple acquisitions and integrate them to support a unified business strategy. Enterprise Architecture (EA) is the discipline and framework specifically designed for this purpose. EA provides the essential blueprints of the current ("as-is") and desired future ("to-be") states of the organization's business processes, data, applications, and technology. Reviewing the EA is the most critical step as it provides the holistic, structured view needed to plan the integration, identify dependencies, eliminate redundancy, and ensure the resulting technical landscape directly supports the strategic goal of providing integrated services.

B. IT risk register: This is a tactical document listing known risks. While the integration project will have risks, the register does not provide the strategic blueprint for how to perform the integration.

C. Balanced scorecard measures: This is a performance management tool used to track the achievement of strategic goals. It measures the outcome of the integration but does not guide its design or implementation.

D. IT strategic plan: This document sets the high-level direction and confirms what needs to be done (integrate applications). The EA provides the detailed plan for how it will be accomplished.

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1. ISACA

CGEIT Review Manual

8th Edition. Domain 2: IT Resources Optimization

Section 2.3

Enterprise Architecture. This section explains that EA is "the key to managing IT complexity" and provides a "holistic view of the enterprise." It is used to create a future-state architecture that is integrated

agile

and aligned with business goals

which is precisely the requirement in the scenario of post-acquisition integration.

2. Ross

J. W.

Weill

P.

& Robertson

D. C. (2006). Enterprise Architecture as Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution. Harvard Business School Press. Chapter 1

"An Introduction to Enterprise Architecture

" establishes that EA is the organizing logic for business processes and IT infrastructure

reflecting the integration and standardization requirements of a company's operating model. This is fundamental for a bank integrating systems after acquisitions.

3. Tamm

T.

Seddon

P. B.

Shanks

G.

& Reynolds

P. (2011). How does enterprise architecture add value to organisations? Communications of the Association for Information Systems

28(1)

10. This academic paper empirically demonstrates that EA's value comes from improving business and IT alignment

managing complexity

and enabling business change. The scenario described (integrating redundant systems) is a classic case where EA provides significant value by guiding this complex change. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.02810)