Current Environment Assessment Matrices

This article provides information for the Current Environment Assessment Matrices. During the current environment assessment, you correlate the proposed business model more closely with the current environment.
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This helps determine how effectively current information systems and current data stores satisfy the needs of the organization.
Current_Environment_Assessment_Matrices
Current_Information_System_Current_Data_Store_Matrix
Current_Data_Store_Matrix
Subject_Area_Current_Data_Store_Matrix
Org_Unit_Curr_Info_Sys_Matrix
Organizational_Unit_Current_Data_Store_Matrix
Bus_Func_Curr_Info_Sys_Matrix
A current information system is a collection of procedures that already support some aspect of the enterprise. A current data store is one of the permanent files and databases that presently support the enterprise. In addition to documenting the current inventory of information systems and data stores, the matrices serve the following three functions:
  • Confirm the completeness of the information architecture
  • Highlight what must be replaced by proposed new systems and who is affected
  • Show where coexistence between new systems and current systems must be managed and when bridges/interfaces must be built
The following standard matrices are useful when evaluating the current environment:
  • Current Information System/Current Data Store Matrix
  • Business Function/Current Information System Matrix
  • Entity Type/Current Data Store Matrix
  • Subject Area/Current Data Store Matrix
  • Organizational Unit/Current Information System Matrix
  • Organizational Unit/Current Data Store Matrix

Current Information System/Current Data Store Matrix

The Current Information System/Current Data Store Matrix records the use of current data stores by current information systems.
Permitted cell values are C, R, U, D, or blank.
This is 1 of 14 core matrices.

Business Function/Current Information System Matrix

The Business Function/Current Information System Matrix relates functions that are identified in the activity model to the information systems that currently support them.
The software populates the rows and columns if the function hierarchy diagram or function dependency diagram and Current Information System/Current Data Store Matrix exists.
Only the lowest-level functions appear in this matrix.
Permitted values in cells are X, 1 through 9, or blank. Assign a number to indicate the strength of support. The suggested cell values are 1 through 3 where:
1 = Lowest support
2 = Moderate support
3 = Highest support
This matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.

Entity Type/Current Data Store Matrix

The Entity Type/Current Data Store Matrix relates entity types that are identified in the data model to the data stores that currently support them.
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populates the cells if the current data stores exist in another matrix and an Entity Relationship Diagram is built.
Permitted cell values are X, 1 through 9, or blank. Assign a number to indicate the strength of support. The suggested cell values are 1 through 3 where:
  • 1 = Lowest support
  • 2 = Moderate support
  • 3 = Highest support
This matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.

Subject Area/Current Data Store Matrix

The Subject Area/Current Data Store Matrix relates subject areas that are identified in the data model to the data stores currently supporting the subject areas.
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populates the rows and columns if a subject area diagram exists or current data stores are in another matrix.
Permitted cell values are X, 1 through 9, or blank. Assign a number to indicate the strength of support. The suggested cell values are 1 through 3 where:
1 = Lowest support
2 = Moderate support
3 = Highest support

Organizational Unit/Current Information System Matrix

The Organizational Unit/Current Information System Matrix correlates information systems with the organizational units the system serves.
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populates the rows and columns if organizational units and current information systems exist in other matrices.
Permitted cell values are X, 1 through 9, or blank. Assign a number to indicate the level of satisfaction. The suggested cell values are 1 thorough 3 where:
1 = Lowest satisfaction
2 = Moderate satisfaction
3 = Highest satisfaction

Organizational Unit/Current Data Store Matrix

The Organizational Unit/Current Data Store Matrix correlates organizational units with the data stores the units currently access.
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populates the rows and columns if the organizational units or current data stores exist in another matrix.
Permitted cell values are X, 1 through 9, or blank.