Why There’s No “Blood System” — Only a Circulatory System And What That Means for Enterprise Modeling

Just because something is everywhere doesn’t mean it deserves structural elevation.

In Enterprise Anatomy™, we don’t create systems based on presence. We define systems based on structural purpose and organizational embodiment.

Take blood, for example.

Blood is found throughout the body. It touches the brain, the lungs, the stomach, the skin, and everything in between. But we don’t say the human body has a Blood System. We call it the Circulatory System.

Why? Because blood isn’t the system. It’s the content. The circulatory system is the structure—the heart, the vessels, the flow mechanism, the valves, the control points.

This distinction matters.

The Enterprise Parallel

In enterprise architecture, we see the same flawed logic all the time:

Data is everywhere, so it must be a system.

AI touches every department, so let’s make it a core function.

Analytics is the bloodstream of the business.

These are seductive narratives. But they’re structurally shallow.

Variables vs. Perspectives vs. Systems

In our Enterprise Anatomy™ model:

• Data is a variable, not a system, not a perspective.

• Network, location, users—also variables.

• Every department is modeled using six perspectives.

• Each perspective uses six variables.

We don’t confuse presence with structure. We model what’s built, owned, and evolved—not what’s simply present.

Then What About AI?

Here’s the critical distinction: AI is not a single variable. And it cannot be modeled inside one perspective alone.

In Enterprise Anatomy™, AI is treated as a compound:

• It spans multiple perspectives—strategy, systems, implementation, operations, performance, and more.

• It cuts across multiple variables—data, models, compute, interaction logic, cost, rules, automation.

• It’s not a system in itself, but it must be anchored structurally within departments that own and evolve it—such as Digital Transformation, Technology, or Product Engineering.

So, no—we don’t create a new “AI system.” And we don’t float AI as an abstract layer across everything. We model it where it is structurally embodied, not just where it is used.

The Trap of Vendor-Centric Thinking

We’ve seen this pattern for decades:

• Oracle: “The enterprise is data.”

• Cisco: “The enterprise is a network.”

• Cloud vendors: “It’s all about compute and location.”

• AI vendors: “AI is the new brain.”

Each one tries to paint the entire enterprise in the color of their own product.

That’s not modeling. That’s marketing.

The Principle We Follow

We don’t promote enablers into structural systems.

Unless there is structural ownership, functional embodiment, and multi-perspective modeling, it doesn't qualify as a system in Enterprise Anatomy™.

Blood is present across the body. It’s vital. But it is structured and managed by the circulatory system.

Likewise, AI is pervasive. But we don’t model pervasiveness. We model structural compounds based on function, ownership, and integration.

Enterprise Anatomy™ doesn’t elevate based on visibility. It models based on structural integrity, ownership, and architectural clarity.