Updated systems architecture overview

Have updated the systems architecture now, pulling out some system types that don't seem to have stood the test of time (or at least don't merit inclusion in a top level view anymore), and adding some others. Where'd Problem Management go? Continuous Improvement.

(click for larger view).

This is only 19 major systems out of a full inventory of 67. Architecture is about simplifying and abstracting - these 19 are what *I* think are important. Thoughts? Debate?

Notice the arrow - it reflects the IT value chain as a whole and how the systems support it.

The systems architecture is in general platform independent; I think that something like all these functions is necessary regardless of whether one is using mainframes, distributd Linux systems, or optical quantum computers.

They are also scale-free. Regardless of the size of the IT organization, one needs these functions. They may be handled in one person's head, or on spreadsheets, but logically the functions all exist and as the IT organization grows, a business case may emerge for each of the systems at key junctures.

One does NOT, repeat NOT, need to go out and buy them all... the process and lifecycle maturity journey dictates THAT.

The category "element management systems" is especially large. These are all the platform specific systems. Today, they are things like server and network management. Who knows what they will be tomorrow?

Cloud computing is of course a big impact, but it doesn't eliminate this architecture. Many of these systems might be re-purposed to governing and integrating cloud providers. Others would admittedly go away (e.g. Asset Management, many types of Element Management) and in general where the systems were tightly coupled to managing existing technologies and assets they would need to be re-oriented to governing commoditized cloud services.

Here are the summary descriptions for the 19:

Architecture & CASE Systems	Serve various specialized purposes for architects & software engineers, including modeling, reverse engineering, code generation, and related.
(IT) Asset Management System	Identification and tracking of IT devices and related items, and software licensing.
Capacity Planning System	Aggregate IT infrastructure usage, model/analyze and identify/mitigate potential constraints.
Change Management System	Register, assess, approve, and control requests for change.
Configuration Management System	Register and track IT assets, systems, services, and their dependencies, in support of core ITSM processes.
Continuous Improvement System	Generic system for tracking improvement opportunities of all types including problem, availability, capacity, continuity, and architecture.
Demand/Portfolio Management System	Track demand for new and changed IT services, and ongoing performance of investments and services.
Element Management	Platform specific management of IT infrastructure: discovery, provisioning, tuning, patching, monitoring.
(IT) Financial Management System	Manage the budgetary and cost aspects of IT management, including forecasting, accounting, and recovery.
Incident Management System	Register and track IT service outages and restoration activities.
Information Management Systems	Various systems and platforms for managing information as a resource, including metadata, document, records, and knowledge management, as well as data warehousing for IT.
Project Management System	Manage project deliverables and timelines.
Purchasing System	Accept and authorize requests and formulate purchase orders to vendors.
Release Management System	Gateway from software development to production operations. Control and coordinate new and changed system deployments. Manage testing & quality.
Security Management Systems	Support processes for assessing and mitigating security risks. Provide security visibility into IT operations.
Service Level Management System	Define service levels and track service performance. Provide aggregated, business-meaningful view of IT service operations.
Service Request Management System	Register and tracking requests for new, changed, or restored services, typically at a more granular, routine level than the Demand Management system.
Software Configuration Management System	Controls software assets (source and compiled) throughout their lifecycle.
Supply Chain systems	Manage IT supply chain from contract to procure to pay.