Delivering an Effective Enterprise Architecture at Chubb Insurance

Authors

Heather A. Smith, Queens UniversityFollow
Richard T. Watson, University of GeorgiaFollow
Patrick Sullivan, Chubb InsuranceFollow

Abstract

An effective enterprise architecture (EA) is much sought and not easily achieved because of competing issues that need attention. Chubb Insurance has spent ten years on its EA voyage from localized business unit architectures to a balanced common infrastructure serving both enterprise and business unit needs. Based on The Open Group Architecture Framework, the company has built procedures and a culture that has led it to a negotiated, flexible standardization. Under a business-value-oriented Chief Architect, Chubb has also become adept at handling the processes, people and politics that make such cooperative efforts so challenging. While assessing the value of an EA can be difficult, Chubb can point to multiple paybacks at both the enterprise and business unit levels. Based on this decade-long journey, the authors have identified lessons that will be of value to other organizations as they set about building their EAs.

Recommended Citation

Smith, Heather A.; Watson, Richard T.; and Sullivan, Patrick (2012) "Delivering an Effective Enterprise Architecture at Chubb Insurance," MIS Quarterly Executive: Vol. 11: Iss. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/misqe/vol11/iss2/5