11.09.10
Moving Up Maslow’s Hierarchy
[Cartoon]
Abraham Maslow introduced his theory of human needs in a 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation. In this paper, he presents human needs in five layers where each layer is built upon the previous layers. When the layers are shown in a pyramid, the more basic needs are shown at the bottom. The highest needs are shown at the top.
It is very interesting to see how each of Maslow’s layers applies to Enterprise Architecture.
The bottom layer, physiological, includes the basic needs of breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, etc. From an information processing perspective, this layer roughly compares to the storage and calculation functions of modern computers. These are the backbone operations of every large business. In the personal computer environment, word-processing, spreadsheet, drawing, and presentation software meets basic needs.
The next layer, safety, covers the needs of personal security, financial security, health and well-being, and safety nets. In information processing these needs are met with personal software applications and web sites. The use of passwords and certificates are used to provide basic access security. Virus protection and backups provide physical security. Other software addresses higher security levels for financial tracking, financial planning, stock market trading, and multiple health web sites for information and ordering of medications.
The next layer up the pyramid, love and belonging, covers the needs for friendship, intimacy, and family. The more recent availability of social networking can, for many, satisfy many of these needs.
The next higher layer of esteem must be mastered before the highest layer of self-actualization can be reached. These layers are in the future of information technology. It is in these layers where the Millennials will expect functionality.
There are some areas of sharing that may be moving towards satisfying these needs. There is no doubt that bloggers are reshaping the distribution of news. There is also no doubt that artists are sharing their music and videos over the internet.
Enterprise Architects need to consider the Maslow hierarchy as they describe their architecture layers. There is no accident in the similarities.
The Enterprise Architects can see what is coming and are already preparing. They know that this will be their time. Corporations will be able to completely focus on their business, and automation will be viewed as an agile enabler. Automation will finally become the self-service contributor that the Corporate Office has always wanted it to be. –Enterprise Architects Masters of the Unseen City
Closing the Business / IT gap.
