On the Claimed Benefits of Enterprise Architecture Management

Abstract

In a world facing increasing organisational complexity and accelerated digital transformation, Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) is frequently cited as a key enabler of strategic change, operational alignment, and IT optimisation. However, the claimed benefits of (doing) EAM vary across literature sources, while industry perspectives and insight into their realisation in practice remain limited. We conducted a multivocal literature review, selecting relevant publications from both academia and industry based on predefined criteria and classified the benefits as IT- or business-related. The analysis identified a variety of value dimensions that make these benefits explicit, ranging from cost reduction and risk mitigation to strategic alignment, innovation enablement, and improved decision-making. In addition, the paper highlights drivers, such as artefact quality, governance, and tooling, that contribute to realising the benefits of EAM, as well as challenges for EA value measurement, including attribution, intangibility, and time horizons. This study provides a structured analytical frame that encourages and guides targeted interviews with practitioners, enabling deeper insights into EAM benefits and the conditions under which they emerge.