Enterprise Architecture (EA) is the description of the current and/or future structure and behavior of an organization's processes, information systems, personnel and organizational sub-units, aligned with the organization's core goals and strategic direction. Although often associated strictly with information technology, it relates more broadly to the practice of business optimization in that it addresses business architecture, performance management, organizational structure and process architecture as well.
The primary purpose of creating an EA is to ensure that business strategy and IT investments are aligned. As such, EA allows traceability from the business strategy down to the underlying technology.
Maryland's EA program provides the necessary guidelines, frameworks, and standards to enable cost-effective use of technology, promote cross-agency collaboration, and improve services to the citizens of the State.