Model Managers

It’s great. The model is being populated with lots of information. EA is fast becoming the key repository for the business. Loads of modelers, in lots of different teams and departments, all adding the information that they need.

If you are lucky, they are following agreed modeling standards. But as the numbers increase so do the mistakes and opportunities for ‘bespoke’ modeling. So the model can’t easily be re-used, and even understood by others. It’s time to apply some governance. Restore order. Check for completeness. Connect the related parts. But where do you start?

Firstly, check the meta-model. Which element types and stereotypes are being used? How are they being connected? With the Model Expert snapshot meta-model view you can see what exists, and navigate to each ‘error’ to correct the mistakes. Wrong connector types or directions? Sorted. Missing data? Populated. Duplicate elements? Deleted. You know what structure your model should have, so now you can save that as a reference and give it to everyone to do their own checks.

For those who need even more help, you can set up their packages with a reference model which guides them real-time to model correctly first time. So instead of worrying about the structure and completeness of the model, they can focus on the quality of the contents.

How do you know who is working in the model? And what are they working on? Where is most of the change? Maybe four projects are all thinking about changing one process. Or two teams are using the same system that’s nearing retirement. How can you find out that kind of detail? Portfolio Manager gives you a heatmap of the model showing which elements are being used and by how many different projects. That makes it obvious where you need to focus your attention.