Enterprise Architecture (glossary)
—(1) A rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, its decomposition into subsystems, the relationships between the subsystems, the relationships with the external environment, the terminology to use, and the guiding principles for the design and evolution of an enterprise; (Giachetti 2009)
(2) A strategic information asset base, which defines the business, the information necessary to operate the business, the technologies necessary to support the business operations, and the transitional processes necessary for implementing new technologies in response to the changing business needs. It is a representation or blueprint; (CIO Council 1999)
(3) The formal description of the structure and function of the components of an enterprise, their interrelationships, and the principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over time. (MOD 2004) N.B.: Components of the enterprise can be any element that goes to make up the enterprise and can include people, processes and physical structures as well as engineering and information systems.
Source
DAU. February 19, 2010. Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG). Ft. Belvoir, VA, USA: Defense Acquisition University (DAU)/U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Discussion
Discussion as to why this is the "consensus" definition for the SEBoK.