Business Architecture is an important new activity, one of the three critical components to the SBO^℠ (Strategy, Business Architecture, and Operations & Optimization) services industry. Business Architects possess a cross-organizational perspective and expertise and are charged with transforming business strategy into designs that enable organizations to increase market share, profit margins and flexibility while reducing risk. Business Architecture is considered one of the most promising emerging professions and the demand for qualified practitioners is growing as organizations struggle to deal with the challenges facing them in today's dynamic, constantly changing business environment.

Authors Paul Bodine and Jack Hilty, both Certified Business Architects (CBA^®) and past presidents of the Business Architects Association^®, provide a historical perspective on the inception, purpose and justification for this new field and the trajectory for the future. The white paper also provides descriptions of role responsibilities, competencies and resources the reader can reference in pursuit of additional information on Business Architecture.