Factory Fireside - Strategy - Glenn Smyth

In this fireside, we explain how data and AI programs can work most effectively with enterprise architects in large organisations, cutting through the tension that often exists between the two. We highlight that while data and AI teams are driven by speed and experimentation, enterprise architects are too often perceived as rigid gatekeepers. Done poorly, EA slows everything down with excessive control, but done well it acts like town planning—using principles-based governance to set guardrails while enabling innovation at pace. We discuss how the true value of EA lies in aligning technology, business, and people design with strategy, equipping executives with better insight maps for data-driven decision-making, and establishing “freedom within boundaries” so AI teams can innovate safely. We also challenge the role of outdated architecture review boards, showing how embedding architects directly into agile delivery teams ensures principles are applied in real time. The core message is that effective EA doesn’t police data and AI—it empowers it, balancing safety with speed to drive transformation at scale

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