REAL Talk With Sam Holcman

What Makes a Great Enterprise Architect or Business Architect

A great enterprise architect and business architect is defined by mindset, behaviors, and outcomes in the real organization, not by the ability to pass a multiple‑choice exam.  Listen in for valuable parameters to think about.

Irrational Exuberance and the AI Mania: Are We Living Through a Bubble?

Welcome to Real Talk with Sam Holcman, where we connect ideas, innovation, and intelligent decision-making. Today’s reflection: irrational exuberance - a phrase coined by former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan in 1996 and revisited today through the lens of the AI revolution.
Greenspan’s words warned of a human tendency - collective overconfidence - when belief outpaces evidence. It describes markets, but really, it describes us. Fast-forward nearly three decades, and you will hear the same energy around artificial intelligence: limitless potential, intense speculation, and a sense that this is the future.

Why TOGAF® Needs a Refresh

TOGAF® is talked about and used, but an increasing number of major practitioners and researchers argue that it misses several critical ingredients for modern, outcome‑driven enterprise architecture. In the age of EA 5.0, these critical ingredients are lacking.  This broadcast will outline these ingredients that are lacking.

When Software Eats Itself

Today’s Broadcast. Billions were wasted, companies bankrupted, and governments embarrassed - all because of something we take for granted: software.
This article is based on an outstanding article titled “Why Software Fails” by Robert N. Charette, in IEEE Spectrum, December 2025.
You have probably heard the old saying “software is eating the world.” But what happens when software eats itself?

EA and BA Advice – How Can You Determine How To Best Spend your Time and Money

When evaluating Enterprise Architecture (EA) or Business Architecture (BA) advice, focus on whether the person, book, website, or post can demonstrate real decisions changed, risks reduced, or value created - not just fluency in frameworks and jargon. The most dependable advisors and materials walk through concrete situations, artifacts, and outcomes, and openly acknowledge what they learned. Remember that the time you spend consuming advice is often more valuable than the money you spend on it.

Agentic AI, EA 5.0, and EACOE

Agentic AI is accelerating all the trends that EA 5.0 and EACOE have been arguing for years: architecture must be business-led, continuously adaptive, and tightly connected to how work actually gets done. In this environment, the EA role does not disappear; it shifts toward orchestrating agents, data, and business capabilities in real time, which is exactly the role EA 5.0 is designed to formalize. www.EACOE.org

No I Will Not Peg My Biz on AI!

No I Will Not Peg My Biz on AI!

Data Center Growth – Good or a Waste

"One day, people will realize the DATA BELONGS TO ME" – remember that quote from the inventor of the internet and the web. We do not need larger data centers – we need better data, in an organized manner. It begins with a classification system that organizes stuff – data.  Think a library – the Dewey decimal system is the key to finding stuff – not endless building of libraries. In one study of medical databases, more than 50% of the total clinical text was found to be duplicated.  Google says 60% of the internet is duplicate.
 

To-Be Models and As-Is Models – Which Always Comes First

Developing an as-is model before a to-be model seems logical on the surface - understand where you are, then define where you want to go. Yet, in practice, this approach can unintentionally trap organizations with the limitations of their current reality. The deeper issue is not one of modeling techniques, but of human cognition: when people start by describing the present, they often lose their ability to imagine the future.

Thought Leader – Thought Mimicker – Cult Follower: Who are you actually hearing?

A thought leader is an authority figure recognized for their expertise in a specific field, often leading discussions and sharing insights that influence their industry. They are known for their ability to innovate and drive change, and they have a significant impact on their community.  Self-declaration does not make someone a thought leader.  Who are you actually getting information from?