When it comes to examining enterprise data architecture landscape, it is sometimes advantageous to functionally decompose the macro-level picture into a collection of relatively autonomous “modules” that can be analyzed in relative isolation. Below is a template or “reference architecture” I have compiled for doing just that.
Each rounded rectangle represents a major module area or “tier.” The information producers tier is where data is generated. The consumption and transformation tier is where data is extracted in order to be calculated, transformed, mastered, and enriched. Storage infrastructure is where the various formats of data call home, and finally, the information delivery tier is where end-users consume information.
