Alan McSweeney

• Bachelor of Applied Science
• Information Technology Architect, Enterprise Architect, Data Architect, Solution Architect at Eirgrid

Solution Architecture And Operational Technologies (OT)/Internet of Things (IoT) This analysis describes a IT architecture approach to designing, acquiring and implementing OT/IoT solutions in a structured manner while being responsive to business needs. It covers the following topics: • OT/IoT Introduction And Overview – context of this analysi...

This analyses demographic data to produce an estimate of the excess mortality and excess net emigration during the Famine in the interval 1846 to 1851.

The application of product development approaches for external consumer-focussed products/solutions/services is long established and widely used. There are many such product development approaches and methodologies such as: Agile Stage Gate * eTOM (enhanced Telecom Operations Map) * Front-End Innovation (FEI) Global Enterprise Technology System (G...

This analysis combines crime data, population data and Garda numbers to attempt to produce a more integrated view of the pattern of occurrence of crime in Ireland. It seeks to identify causative factors and factors that may allow future crime numbers. This in turn could be used to identify Garda personnel requirements. The available crime statisti...

In summary, the conclusions of this analysis are 1. Both the numbers waiting for in-patient and out-patient treatment increased significantly even when compared to pre-COVID-19 trends. In the interval from March 2020 to September 2021, the total queue size increased by 90,847 or 16.15%. The estimated total number of months those people in the queu...

The data architecture of solutions is frequently not given the attention it deserves or needs. Frequently, too little attention is paid to designing and specifying the data architecture within individual solutions and their constituent components. This is due to the behaviours of both solution architects ad data architects. Solution architecture t...

Solution architects and the solution architecture function are ideally placed to create solution delivery estimates Solution architects have the knowledge and understanding of the solution constituent component and structure that is needed to create solution estimate: • Knowledge of solution options • Knowledge of solution component structure to...

This analysis seeks to validate published COVID-19 mortality statistics using mortality data derived from general mortality statistics, mortality estimated from population size and mortality rates and death notice data.

Demographic changes generally happen slowly (except when they occur quickly as in the case of mass migration in response to events such as conflicts). The changes in relation to the numbers of members of religious orders have been happening for 50 years without any apparent significant response by those in charge of those organisations. The rapid a...

Technical debt is an overworked term without an effective and common agreed understanding of what exactly it is, what causes it, what are its consequences, how to assess it and what to do about it. Technical debt is the sum of additional direct and indirect implementation and operational costs incurred and risks and vulnerabilities created because...

This describes an approach to embedding security within the technology solution landscape. It describes a security model that encompasses the range of individual solution components up to the entire solution landscape. The solution security model allows the security status of a solution and its constituent delivery and operational components to be...

This paper describes how technologies such as data pseudonymisation and differential privacy technology enables access to sensitive data and unlocks data opportunities and value while ensuring compliance with data privacy legislation and regulations.

Your data has value to your organisation and to relevant data sharing partners. It has been expensively obtained. It represents a valuable asset on which a return must be generated. To achieve the value inherent in the data you need to be able to make it appropriately available to others, both within and outside the organisation. Organisations are...

Solution architects must be aware of the need for solution security and of the need to have enterprise-level controls that solutions can adopt. The sets of components that comprise the extended solution landscape, including those components that provide common or shared functionality, are located in different zones, each with different security ch...

Automation is a technology trend IT architects should be aware of and know how to respond to business requests as well as recommend automation technologies and solutions where appropriate. Automation is a bigger topic than just RPA (Robotic Process Automation). Automation solutions, like all other technology solutions, should be subject to an arch...

These notes discuss the related topics of Data Profiling, Data Catalogs and Metadata Harmonisation. It describes a detailed structure for data profiling activities. It identifies various open source and commercial tools and data profiling algorithms. Data profiling is a necessary pre-requisite activity in order to construct a data catalog. A data c...

Comparison of COVID-19 Mortality Data and Deaths for Ireland March 2020 – March 2021 Using Public Data Sources This document compares published COVID-19 mortality statistics for Ireland with publicly available mortality data extracted from informal public data sources. This mortality data is taken from published death notices on the web site www.r...

This analysis looks at the potential impact that large numbers of electric vehicles could have on electricity demand, electricity generation capacity and on the electricity transmission and distribution grid in Ireland. It combines data from a number of sources – electricity usage patterns, vehicle usage patterns, electric vehicle current and possi...

This describes a structured approach to validating data used to construct and use an operational risk model. It details an integrated approach to operational risk data involving three components: 1. Using the Open Group FAIR (Factor Analysis of Information Risk) risk taxonomy to create a risk data model that reflects the required data needed to as...

These notes describe a generalised data integration architecture framework and set of capabilities. With many organisations, data integration tends to have evolved over time with many solution-specific tactical approaches implemented. The consequence of this is that there is frequently a mixed, inconsistent data integration topography. Data integr...

This analysis compares some data areas - Economy, Crime, Aviation, Energy, Transport, Health, Mortality. Housing and Construction - for Ireland for the years 2019 and 2020, illustrating the changes that have occurred between the two years. It shows some of the impacts of COVID-19 and of actions taken in response to it, such as the various lockdowns...

This describes the use of published death notices on the web site www.rip.ie as a substitute to officially published mortality statistics. This analysis uses data from RIP.ie for the years 2014 to 2020. Death notice information is available immediately and contains information at a greater level of detail than published statistics. There is a subs...

This analysis compares some data areas - Economy, Crime, Aviation, Energy, Transport, Health, Mortality. Housing and Construction - for Ireland for the years 2019 and 2020, illustrating the changes that have occurred between the two years. It shows some of the impacts of COVID-19 and of actions taken in response to it, such as the various lockdowns...

IT Function critical capabilities are key areas where the IT function needs to maintain significant levels of competence, skill and experience and practise in order to operate and deliver a service. There are several different IT capability frameworks. The objective of these notes is to assess the suitability and applicability of these frameworks....

This reviews the Open Group’s IT4IT Reference Architecture (https://www.opengroup.org/it4it) with respect to other operational frameworks to determine its suitability and applicability to the IT operating function. IT4IT is intended to be a reference architecture for the management of the IT function. It aims to take a value chain approach to cre...

This analysis seeks to determine if there are excess deaths that occurred in Ireland in the interval Jan – Jun 2020 that can be attributed to COVID-19. Excess deaths means deaths in excess of the number of expected deaths plus the number of deaths directly attributed to COVID-19. On the other hand a deficiency of deaths would occur when the number...

This presentation describes systematic, repeatable and co-ordinated approach to agile solution architecture and design. It is intended to describe a set of practical steps and activities embedded within a framework to allow an agile method to be adopted and used for solution design and delivery. This approach ensures consistency in the assessment o...

This describes a systematised and structured approach to solution acquisition or procurement that involves solution architecture from the start. This allows the true scope of both the required and subsequently acquired solution are therefore fully understood. By using such an approach, poor solution acquisition outcomes are avoided. Solution archi...

This presentation describes a structured approach to creating a business-focussed information technology strategy. An effective business-oriented IT strategy is an opportunity to resolve the disconnection and to ensure the IT function is able to and does respond to business needs and is trusted by the business to provide IT solutions. The IT stra...

Despite years of emphasising the need for IT and business alignment, the disconnect between business and IT continues. IT focuses too much of pure technology. However, business expectations cam be unrealistic, based on part on IT not explaining itself to the business. IT technology trends are not relevant the business. The business is concerned wit...

Projects are a continuum from initial concept to planning, design, implementation and management and operation of the implemented solution (and ultimate decommissioning) and across IT and business functions. Therefore it is important to have an integrated project delivery approach that crosses these core dimensions. This describes an integrated...

The I Word: Moving Innovation from Research and Development (R&D) to Ideation and Realisation (I&R)

This discusses using the eTOM (enhanced Telecom Operations Map) Framework to Non-Telecommunications Service Companies - An Product/Service/Solution Innovation Example

Integrating IT Frameworks, Methodologies and Best Practices Into IT Delivery and Operation

The Chief Skeptical Officer – A New C-Level Role

This describes a generalised agile and iterative approach to information technology projects and the use of the agile approach within organisations

Outlines an Approach to Describing the Organisation Data Landscape to Assist with Data Transformation Analysis and Planning The Data Landscape is a representation of the organisation’s data entities and their relationships, interfaces and data flows. Data entities are data asset components that perform data-related functions, from data storage to...

Describes an approach to defining the competencies and capabilities required of the IT function and to use current levels of competence and importance of competency across all activity areas of the IT function to identify those areas at which getting better will yield the greatest return, allowing for targeted investment of resources to get good at...

Acquisition skills are necessary to support move from in-sourcing to outsourcing of projects, solutions and services. Effective and appropriate sourcing allows organisations react quickly while reducing costs, ensuring repeatability and improving returns on sourcing activities. Acquisition includes sourcing of suppliers, defining services, awarding...

Notes on the Economics of Utility Computing

Describe at a high-level a structured approach to implementing outsourcing/managed services from both service provider and end-user organisation Provide a high-level view of a common set of processes to be used by service providers and end-user organisations to implement and operate an outsourcing/managed services arrangement

Competence in sourcing is a core skill of the IT function. The IT function is becoming largely a manager of suppliers and service providers across a wide range of products, solutions and services. IT mediates between the business and the supplier ecosystem, acting as a lens focussing business needs on appropriate suppliers. When products and servic...

Describes an approach to the development of an IT outsourcing reference architecture that enables rapid and repeatable take-on and delivery of IT outsourcing services consistently through productisation and industrialisation

Identifies business-oriented trends in Information Technology outsourcing

Implementing Outsourcing Effectively Within the Context of Cloud Computing (And More Generally)

This covers a number of topics: • Context of GDPR – this contains information on other directives and regulations relating to GDPR to provide details on its wider content • Personal Information – this reiterates what is meant by personal information and so what is covered by GDPR • Principles of GDPR – this identifies some of the key principles...

There is an increasing and continuing trend of organisations moving from in-house solution delivery to sourcing solutions externally. Organisations are divesting themselves of what they see as non-core functions. This is intended to improve operational efficiencies by using external suppliers’ perceived abilities to provide cost-effective, fit-for-...

Understand exactly what is meant by the commoditisation of information technology and define a framework for achieving optimal business benefits from appropriate exploitation of commoditisation

Performance-Based Services Contracting (PBSC) is concerned with the structured of the results and measurable outcomes to be achieved rather than the manner by which the work is to be performed. Performance-Based Services Contracting approach is about defining what the required results of a service will rather than how the contractor will perform...

Describe at a high-level a structured approach to implementing outsourcing/managed services from both service provider and end-user organisation

This covers a number of topics: • Context of GDPR – this contains information on other directives and regulations relating to GDPR to provide details on its wider content • Personal Information – this reiterates what is meant by personal information and so what is covered by GDPR • Principles of GDPR – this identifies some of the key principles...

This describes a conceptual model approach to designing an enterprise data fabric. This is the set of hardware and software infrastructure, tools and facilities to implement, administer, manage and operate data operations across the entire span of the data within the enterprise across all data activities including data acquisition, transformation,...

This proposes an initial smart data framework and structure to allow the nuggets of value contained in the deluge of largely irrelevant and useless data to be isolated and extracted. It enables your organisation to ask the questions to understand where it should be in terms of its data state and profile and what it should do to achieve the desired...

Describes a data management framework

Review existing data management maturity models to identify core set of characteristics of an effective data maturity model: DMBOK (Data Management Book of Knowledge) from DAMA (Data Management Association) MIKE2.0 (Method for an Integrated Knowledge Environment) Information Maturity Model (IMM) IBM Data Governance Council Maturity Model Enter...

This describes a generalised and structured approach to defining a strategy for collecting (near or actual) real time, high volume data. The appproach can be applied to areas such as Telemetry, Big Data, Smart Metering and Internet of Things implementations and operations. This proposed structured approach is intended to ensure that complexity is u...

Defines a data audit approach to creating an enterprise current data state view as part of defining an enterprise data strategy

Any approach to Big Data needs to be based rigorously on business value. Big Data exists across the organisation’s operating landscape and not just for customers. Such data presents the potential for significant value that can enhance the way organisations do business and interact with external parties. There is a need for a realistic and achievabl...

To provide an overview of the importance and relevance of data governance as part of an information management initiative

Orchestration and provisioning tasks and requirements arise during the entire lifecycle of the delivery of a service to a customer, from service initiation to service usage, monitoring and service management and service termination. A generalised architectural approach to orchestration and provisioning for services delivery will yield benefits in...

Training Course - Introduction to Business Process Management It is intended to be a good general and practical introduction to the subject. It covers the following topics: 1. Business Process Management 2. Process Modelling 3. Process Analysis 4. Process Design 5. Process Performance Management 6. Process Transformation 7. Process Manage...

RPA can reduce manual effort, reduce manuals errors, improve quality, accuracy and ensure consistency. RPA based processes are always available, can respond to changes more quickly and are more scalable that manual processes. They captures process information for reporting, analysis and process improvement and provide greater visibility and control...

This describes the concept of a Process Oriented Architecture. A Process Oriented Architecture is a way of linking process areas to actual (desired) interactions – customer (external interacting party) service journeys through the organisation. It allows two views of any process to be maintained and operated: 1. External view – that experienced b...

Describes an approach to integrating operational processes into cross-functional customer focussed view for improved customer relationship management

Provide an introduction to process design/specification and the potential benefits of using a visual process design approach such as BPMN to enable business and IT users understand how process should operate

The various sources of population-related data are inconsistent with one another. There has been past issues with determining the extent of immigration. This in turn creates an issue with the size of the population of Ireland. This analysis has identified one possible set of inconsistencies relating to the size of the Irish population. It may wel...

These notes are a macro-level analysis of the issues of mortgage default and repossessions. Arrears in mortgages appear to be closely correlated with the amount of negative equity. In the last 10 years, there have been many legal and regulatory interventions that have affected the way in which properties whose mortgages are in arrears can be re...

These notes look at Irish data on population size, pensions, healthcare for the over 65s, birth rate, attendance at third-level education and life expectancy to illustrate how demographic trends can be identified. In general, the Irish population is increasing due both to births and net immigration. The population numbers aged 65 and over will ne...

This is the table of contents and introduction to the book Introduction to Solution Architecture.

This is an extract from the book introduction to Solution Architecture that provides a solution architecture perspective on why solution delivery fails. It is a reasonable statement that in the minds of many people failure is synonymous with information technology projects. While this perception is an exaggeration, the outcomes of many IT solution...

This is an extract from the book An Introduction to Solution Architecture (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1797567616) that discusses the topic of solution complexity. The solution architect cannot design solution in isolation without being aware of the implications of its subsequent delivery. Inherent unnecessary complexity must be avoided. The soluti...

This is an extract from the book An Introduction to Solution Architecture (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1797567616) that discusses the topic of a Solution Architecture Centre Of Excellence. The solution architecture function should aspire to be a Solution Architecture Centre Of Excellence (SACOE). This is concerned with developing a mature function...

The continued existence and growth of shadow IT gives IT architecture the opportunity show leadership. IT architecture can be the gateway for business IT solution requirements, from initial solution concept through to solution realisation. Shadow IT is a set of reactions by business functions to an actual or perceived inability or unwillingness of...

Early engagement in the solution delivery process needs to occur before any solution delivery project is initiated. Its objective is to understand the scope, requirements, objectives, approach, options and to get a high-level understanding of the likely resources, timescale and cost required before starting the project Fundamentally, early engage...

Analysis paralysis and decision avoidance occur all too frequently and commonly in the business and solution analysis and design process. It wastes time and money. Analysis paralysis occurs when you cannot escape the analysis stage – you are always looking for more information and for perfection. Decision avoidance and evasion occurs when there is...

Business change without a target business architecture and a plan is likely to result in a lack of success and even failure. An effective approach to business architecture and business architecture competency is required to address effectively the pressures on businesses to change. Business architecture connects business strategy to effective imple...

Solution architecture and design is concerned with designing new (IT) solutions to resolve problems or address opportunities. In order to solve a problem, you need sufficient information to understand the problem. If you do not understand the scope of the required solution you cannot understand the risks associated with the implementation approach....

IT Architecture is failing the business by: • Not delivering on business strategy and business objectives • Not helping the business respond to external and internal pressures • Not providing the consulting and advisory services to enable the business derive value from new technologies • Not driving IT innovation • Not making itself relevant...

Business change without a target business architecture and a plan is likely to result in a lack of success and even failure. An effective approach to business architecture and business architecture competency is required to address effectively the pressures on businesses to change. Business architecture connects business strategy to effective imple...

These topics may appear to be separate but are closely related to the need for an effective solution design process, approach and function. Nearly 50 years ago, Dr Melvin Conway wrote a short and insightful article titled How Do Committees Invent? where he made a number of observations on the system and solution design process including “… organi...

Digital strategy is a statement about the organisation’s digital positioning, competitors and customer and collaborator needs and behaviour to achieve a direction for innovation, communication, transaction and promotion. This describes facets of exploring the options for digital to ensure that the resulting strategy is realistic, achievable and w...

The role of solution architecture is to identify answer to a business problem and set of solution options and their components. There will be many potential solutions to a problem with varying degrees of suitability to the underlying business need. Solution options are derived from a combination of Solution Architecture Dimensions/Views which descr...

This describes an approach to creating a high-level architecture for a complete end-to-end solution design

This examines the potential for the application of Design Science principles to the solution design process within solution architecture to improve the rigour and accuracy of solution designs. Design Science is the structured and systematic process for creating designs that resolve problems. It is concerned with the structured process for the acq...

User experience is the sum of experiences across all dimensions of all solutions and the user’s interaction with it including its functionality and quality attributes. It is the sum of all interactions with the solution and the results the solution provides. Solution usability is much, much more than a user interface Users experience the complete...

After unnecessary complexity has been reduced from the problem being solved, the scope of the solution to the problem is governed by the complexity of the problem. Complexity is needed to handle and process complexity. Systems acquire or accrete unnecessary complexity over time as originally unforeseen exceptions or changes are incorporated. It may...

Digital strategy is a statement about the organisation’s digital positioning, competitors and customer and collaborator needs and behaviour to achieve a direction for innovation, communication, transaction and promotion. Digital strategy needs to be defined in the same framework structure as the proposed digital architecture platform. Achieving t...

Business has a consistently poor experience of the internal IT function. It is now all too easy for the business to bypass the central IT function. There is a business shift to cloud service providers offering infrastructure-less solutions with no perceived IT involvement. Outsourcing and the divestment of IT functions in response to business wishe...

Digital transformation - extending and exposing business processes outside the organisation - by implementing a digital strategy – a statement about the organisation’s digital positioning, operating model, competitors and customer and collaborator needs and behaviour through the delivery of digital solutions defined in a digital architecture – a fu...

Introducing the concept of Enterprise Business Analysis as a strategic resource to achieve business and IT alignment. Alignment means being able to draw a straight Line from business strategy through to delivered and operational solutions implemented to respond to businessn. Business and IT Alignment requires more than just relationship management...

CPIC-IT is a systematic process logical IT investments in new systems and maintaining and operating existing systems. CPIC-IT is a process for effective decision-making that ensures IT investments integrate strategic planning, budgeting, procurement, and the management of IT in support of organisation needs: Determines if a given investment in IT...

These are some brief notes on applying some of the principles of game theory to analysing the current impasse in Britain in order to determine the likelihood of a no-deal/hard/disorganised Brexit.

The myths of requirements are that: • Requirements gathered from business users through requirements gathering meetings and workshops define the scope and functionality of the solution • Requirements gathering workshops at the start of a project are sufficient to understand business needs • Requirements change The reality is that what is gathered...

This provides an overview of the importance of Enterprise Architecture and to provide an overview of The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) version 9 concepts and structure.

These notes describe how the IVI (Innovation Value Institute) IT CMF (IT Capability Maturity Framework) can be used to define an effective business oriented workplan for the first 100 days.

For any systems implementation project the requirements validation, analysis and design phases are extremely important. The information contained in this document is a generic methodology. This needs to be modified to meet the needs of any project during the project mobilisation phase. Some of the steps can be reduced or eliminated to accelerate th...

These notes explain the benefits of implementing Enterprise Architecture and to identify how the value of Enterprise Architecture can be measured.

These notes describe how the IT CMF can be used as a basis for establishing a business-oriented information technology strategy.

These notes discuss the trend towards cloud computing in the context of current and past trends and forecasts in Information Technology.

The CSO announced in June 2018 that they are publishing a new set of data series called New Dwellings Completed. The purpose of this new data is to create realistic statistics on the number of new dwelling completions in Ireland. Counting the number of new dwellings while important needs to be conducted in a wider context where factors that affec...