TOGAF principles for an imperfect world

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) is a marvellous thing in its way. Recently, after many years of working as an ICT solution architect, I've qualified as a TOGAF practitioner. But TOGAF has such an air of lofty other-worldliness about it that I can’t resist presenting the following little case study.

No easy answers from ISO/IEC 29119

The new ‘definitive’ software testing standard may not meet the needs of systems architects.

The value of standards seems to be that they help you to ask for simple answers instead of complicated ones. For example, I don't have to ask for a detailed report on the combustion properties of the fuel in the petrol pump. If I really want to know that it’s the right kind of fuel, I just need to look on the pump for a label mentioning the standard ‘BS EN 228:2004’. Similarly, as an information systems architect, I don't have to ask for a detailed explanation of the remote management interface on a home router: for my purposes it's often enough to ask whether its supports the standard ‘TR-069’.

GB energy markets beyond the Thatcher era

Margaret Thatcher’s funeral was held today in London. Her legacy includes the present structure of Great Britain’s energy markets. She presided over the development of the Electricity Act 1989, and the breaking up of the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1990. As a result, we have an electricity market structure which allows consumers some freedom of choice in which company to buy their electricity from, or to sell their solar generation to.

The bizarre economics of Hinkley C

This week, UK government approved the development of the twin 'Hinkley C' nuclear power stations by the French company EDF. It’s interesting to compare the economics of Hinkley C with an something radically different but equally effective.

Mobile networks splendidly off-the-rails

Olaf Swantee, CEO of mobile operator EE, posted last week about the parallels between digital connectivity and the planned new UK high speed rail link. As well as the parallels, there’s an important difference, which explains why the UK government is investing in railways but not in mobile networks, and why Olaf has done well in choosing which business to work in.

There are only two sorts of railway engines: the charming ones, which look like this,