OVUM Butler Group released a very positive Technology Audit of the Essential Project in October 2009.  As part of the audit, we had a very interesting session with their EA analyst, Mark Blowers, discussing both the tool and the open source approach.

Mark states that OVUM Butler Group ‘particularly likes the way the main meta-model is not over complicated by the use a Support Meta-Model, where concepts and relationships are created, exploiting knowledge captured in the Core Meta-Model, to assist management and governance capabilities, such as Strategy Management, Change Management, and Service Delivery. Additional support concepts are planned, including Security and Information Lifecycle Management.’

And that in OVUM Butler Group’s view ‘An open source alternative is something that organisations should consider if lack of financial resources is preventing the use of a tool, as Butler Group believes it would be unwise to embark on Enterprise Architecture, and impossible to fully realise the benefits, without assistance from a tool specifically designed to support such an approach.’
OVUM Butler Group customers and subscribers can view a full copy of the report at the OVUM Butler Group website.