February 2021

It is extremely helpful if everyone in an organization speaks the same language. As Marketing Director of Colruyt Group, Jo Willemyns is well aware of the power of clear communication and transparency. Also when it comes to enterprise architecture.

Crystallized architecture

"These days, enterprise architecture is a very cultivated discipline within Colruyt Group of which I am a big fan and believer. It helps us to further shape and grow a complex organization in a structured way." Jo Willemyns has followed much of the genesis of EA within Colruyt Group closely. At the start of the first programs, it was noted that the process-based working was not connected to the information within the organization. After several iterations of different methodologies, including e.g. the Strategic Alignment Model, everything finally started to crystallize into enterprise architecture.

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"For me, enterprise architecture is primarily a management tool to build organizations.  It gives our leaders a certain framework and a license to operate. If, in addition to that, you have a good definition of your business functions, you're good to go." Willemyns particularly likes the simplicity and purity that enterprise architecture has to offer. But it sometimes takes time to get to that level.

Long-term thinking in a faster-changing world

As a marketer, it is an ongoing challenge to work strategically and not succumb to the latest technological novelties. "Corona has confirmed it once again: the behavior of our customers is not going to change overnight. However, it is important as a company to digitize your foundations. For example, within Colruyt Group we are investing in data management platforms to better distribute our digital media."  For Willemyns, enterprise architecture is the perfect example of long-term thinking in an ever faster-changing world.

Colruyt Group's culture and identity are obviously important inputs at the architectural drawing board. "I am convinced that our capabilities reflect our operating model choices. For example, we choose to set up certain capabilities separately, while in other organizations this often happens in a very integrated way.”

Integrity

Finally, we talk about the skills you need to master as an enterprise architect. Architects mainly give direction to the decision and to the possible choices. It is their job to ensure that all stakeholders are informed in the same way.

The biggest challenge for an enterprise architect is to maintain integrity and transparency at a corporate level. "Colruyt Group is a very relational organization. An organizational chart doesn't mean anything here, so you'll be engaging with a lot of people here most of all."