Systems Flow Inc
Practical Enterprise And Solution Architecture

A tailored business strategy is quintessential to being able to respond to the growing business and customer demands: Organizations should develop and deploy an effective strategic vision, making use of formal Enterprise Architecture (EA) practices to unleash practical and successful applications.Both challenges require tangible delivery of solutions to provide value to the business, which is where a consistent EA delivery process comes into play. Rhinebeck, NY-based Systems Flow Inc. propounds technology trends in the EA arena to help organizations to establish solutions utilizing formal architecture processes. The firm helps deliver strategic plans in response to trends and disruptions, assisting in deploying solutions in alignment with clients’ strategic vision. “We have deep experience in designing architectures that incorporate all the new trends, but beyond that, our process is trend agnostic,” suggests Dan Hughes, Principal Consultant and Partner at Systems Flow, Inc.

Systems Flow’s Investigative Architecture, a practical solution architecture process, helps organizations to deliver complex solutions successfully through templates, samples and tips for designing enterprise architectures. It works well with most architecture frameworks and diagramming tools, and maybe adopted “as is” or customized for organizational specifics. “We developed it initially to ensure quality and consistency for our own architects’ use while serving our clients. We understood later that it could provide the same value for our clients too,” says Hughes. As he points out, “A side benefit is that it enables easier governance of architecture.” Investigative Architecture also provides assistance to organizations with guidance in developing essential soft skills—critical for an enterprise or solution architect—including effective meeting and communication skills. The firm also offers practice building, training, and mentoring services.

The Company employs an experienced team to work with clients, helping envision and manage technology changes and competing business processes

Systems Flow Inc. applies visual modeling expertise to assist with enterprise architecture definition, process re-engineering, and business requirement initiatives through Investigative Architecture: The process is structured around a core set of visual models which can be produced in a wide assortment of architecture and diagramming tools. This enables organizations to design solutions using any modeling tool they already have. In addition, the solution helps in assessing architectural risks and identifying improvement opportunities, creating reusable frameworks based on industry-standard patterns, as well as defining organizational structure. Systems Flow Inc. is also known for its unique consulting services. The company employs an experienced team who work with their clients helping envision and manage technology changes and competing business processes.

For example, at a financial services client facing a critical roadblock, the question arose whether to leverage a solution the client already had in production or to develop a new one in order to meet new underwriting requirements after selecting a new vendor. Systems Flow Inc. resolved the problem through Options Analysis, a core deliverable of Investigative Architecture, to document the architecture choices and to quantify risks and opportunities of each. A fact-based decision was made enabling the client to avoid the need to change gear later during solution development or testing, thereby avoiding a large and unnecessary waste of capital.

The numerous success stories of Systems Flow Inc. are testimony of its efficiency in delivering Enterprise Architecture and client services. “In today’s market, everyone is looking to cut costs and often look toward less expensive outsourcing arrangements for technology roles, including solution architecture,” informs Hughes. He believes that there is a consistent need to deliver engagements that bring value for the cost during the engagement and build capability for clients so there is residual value. “So far, so good,” he smiles. The company aims to continue working in the same direction in the near future.