An Open GenAI Business Case Analysis Best Practice: A Methodology for Data Program Transformation

Methodology Background

The phased approach in this document is modeled on the Methodology for Business Transformation (MBT), a proven and repeatable process with its origins in the U.S. federal government’s efforts to modernize technology investments. The MBT was developed and applied within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) as its standard methodology for implementing the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) framework. It provides a business-driven, stakeholder-centric approach to analyzing segments of an enterprise and developing actionable “Modernization Blueprints” that ensure technology solutions are directly aligned with strategic mission goals. The Methodology for Business Transformation (MBT) is not a standalone corporate framework; it is a practical, repeatable process with its roots in the U.S. Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) program. This context is key to its credibility.

  1. U.S. Federal Government Context (OMB and FEA):
    • The foundation for this type of methodology was established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB mandated that all federal agencies adopt an enterprise architecture approach to manage their technology investments and ensure they align with their mission.
    • This government-wide framework is known as the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA). The FEA provided a common set of reference models (e.g., Business Reference Model, Data Reference Model) that agencies were required to use.
    • The goal was to move from siloed project development to a more holistic, “business-driven” approach where technology solutions were directly tied to improving business functions and services across the entire government enterprise.
  2. Department of the Interior (DOI) Implementation and the Birth of MBT:
    • To comply with the OMB mandate, large agencies like the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) needed a practical way to apply the high-level principles of the FEA to their specific needs.
    • The Methodology for Business Transformation (MBT) was developed and refined at the DOI as their formal, step-by-step process for doing exactly this. It was their answer to the question: “How do we actually implement the FEA framework for a specific business area?”
    • MBT became the DOI’s standard for analyzing a “business segment” (e.g., water management, land records), identifying redundancies, defining future-state improvements, and creating a “Modernization Blueprint” for investment.
  3. Xentity’s Role and the Public-Facing MBT:
    • Xentity Corporation was a key partner and consultant working directly with the DOI and other federal agencies to develop, document, and execute the MBT.
    • MBT has been used on several dozen engagements including DOI Programs, Other Federal Agencies, International Agencies, and State Agencies.

The material on the xentity.com/MBT website is a public-facing description of this federally-applied methodology that they helped create. It makes the principles and steps of this government-proven process accessible to a wider audience.