Design of an Enterprise Architecture (EA) Model for Iranian Electricity Distribution Companies Based on IEC 61968 Standard and Value Stream Management (VSM)

Abstract

Enterprise architecture is an integrated and comprehensive approach that analyzes an organization's various aspects and elements (System) from an engineering perspective. It includes a set of documents, models, standards, and implementation measures for the transformation from the current state to the desired state, centered on information technology. It is implemented in a repeatable cycle and is continuously updated and developed. In addition to the analysis and development of business architecture (Structure, processes, and services), information technology architecture (Information, software, network, and security) is also necessary. The combination of these analyses and maps, aligned, balanced, and integrated, describes the organization's architecture. The need for enterprise architecture can be evaluated in the need for the design and development of complex information systems, the emergence of information systems for specific purposes, and the importance of organizational flexibility in the face of external pressures such as business change, changes in organizational missions and structures, and rapid technological changes. Despite research achievements in this field, the lack of a successful example of enterprise architecture implementation in electricity distribution companies has led to the less-than-maximum realization of architecture plan goals in companies. Therefore, considering the experiences gained in the path of establishing enterprise architecture in Mashhad Electricity Distribution Company, a proposed model for establishing enterprise architecture was investigated and evaluated. Implementing one phase of the model in the main processes of the customer sector has resulted in achievements such as a 44% improvement in the provision of relocation services to customers.