ICMG Enterprise Architecture Convergence Level 2 — EA (Departments / Functions) One Department One Anatomy™
- Sunil Dutt Jha
- Feb 6
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 7
Level 2 begins when Enterprise Architecture moves beyond IT and becomes explicit inside business departments.
Most organizations believe departmental structure already exists because they have strategy presentations, SOP manuals, process flows, and departmental systems. However, these artefacts usually exist independently rather than as one integrated anatomy.
Level 2 is achieved only when all initiatives within a department operate using one consistent P1–P6 anatomy.
Departments Are Not Single Units — They Contain Sub-Functions
Every department is composed of multiple sub-functions.
For example, HR typically includes:
Hiring / Talent Acquisition
Compensation & Benefits
Performance Management
Payroll
Learning & Development
Workforce Planning
Compliance
Employee Relations
HR Operations.
Each sub-function usually evolves independently, creating its own processes, rules, tools, and operational practices.
Level 2 progression therefore happens through anatomical propagation across these sub-functions.
Stage A — Anatomy Established in One Sub-Function
The first sub-function (for example Hiring) is modelled fully across:
P1 strategy intent
P2 process sequencing
P3 rules and decision logic
P4 HR-specific components (HR systems, forms, decision artefacts)
P5 implementation tasks (manual HR tasks + IT-supported tasks)
P6 operational execution.
This anatomy must be used in real decision-making.
Without decision use, Level 2 has not started.
Stage B — Anatomy Propagates Across Multiple Sub-Functions
Additional sub-functions begin instantiating the same structural principles.
Example:
Hiring anatomy informs Compensation flows.
Performance management inherits decision logic patterns.
Payroll sequencing aligns with shared operational structure.
At this stage:
Sub-functions stop reinventing independent structures.
Anatomy becomes reusable inside the department.
Stage C — Department-Wide Anatomical Convergence
All major sub-functions operate inside one departmental anatomy.
Example:
15 HR sub-functions → one HR anatomy
Key signs:
new initiatives inherit structure automatically,
decision logic is consistent across sub-functions,
manual work and IT-supported workflows follow the same sequencing,
operational issues can be explained structurally rather than locally.
What Level 2 Certification Confirms
ICMG does not certify whether departments have SOPs or governance.
It certifies whether:
one integrated P1–P6 anatomy governs all sub-functions, and
departmental initiatives instantiate that anatomy consistently.
Important Boundary
At Level 2, departments operate with internal consistency.
However, cross-department alignment still depends on negotiation rather than shared enterprise anatomy.
That transition happens at Level 3.
