REAL Talk With Sam Holcman

Today’s Broadcast. Billions were wasted, companies bankrupted, and governments embarrassed - all because of something we take for granted: software.

This article is based on an outstanding article titled “Why Software Fails” by Robert N. Charette, in IEEE Spectrum, December 2025.

You have probably heard the old saying “software is eating the world.” But what happens when software eats itself?

When evaluating Enterprise Architecture (EA) or Business Architecture (BA) advice, focus on whether the person, book, website, or post can demonstrate real decisions changed, risks reduced, or value created - not just fluency in frameworks and jargon. The most dependable advisors and materials walk through concrete situations, artifacts, and outcomes, and openly acknowledge what they learned. Remember that the time you spend consuming advice is often more valuable than the money you spend on it.

Agentic AI is accelerating all the trends that EA 5.0 and EACOE have been arguing for years: architecture must be business-led, continuously adaptive, and tightly connected to how work actually gets done. In this environment, the EA role does not disappear; it shifts toward orchestrating agents, data, and business capabilities in real time, which is exactly the role EA 5.0 is designed to formalize. www.EACOE.org

No I Will Not Peg My Biz on AI!

"One day, people will realize the DATA BELONGS TO ME" – remember that quote from the inventor of the internet and the web. We do not need larger data centers – we need better data, in an organized manner. It begins with a classification system that organizes stuff – data.  Think a library – the Dewey decimal system is the key to finding stuff – not endless building of libraries. In one study of medical databases, more than 50% of the total clinical text was found to be duplicated.  Google says 60% of the internet is duplicate.

Developing an as-is model before a to-be model seems logical on the surface - understand where you are, then define where you want to go. Yet, in practice, this approach can unintentionally trap organizations with the limitations of their current reality. The deeper issue is not one of modeling techniques, but of human cognition: when people start by describing the present, they often lose their ability to imagine the future.

A thought leader is an authority figure recognized for their expertise in a specific field, often leading discussions and sharing insights that influence their industry. They are known for their ability to innovate and drive change, and they have a significant impact on their community.  Self-declaration does not make someone a thought leader.  Who are you actually getting information from?

Data drives Artificial Intelligence - not the other way around. It is the foundation upon which AI systems are built and the fuel that determines how powerful, accurate, and innovative they can become. The phrase “Data for AI” captures this reality: without high-quality, strategic data, AI cannot function effectively. Developing a data architecture that prioritizes data at the core unlocks agility, insight, and competitive advantage in the era of intelligent automation.

AI, driven by hype cycles, is disrupting and in many ways undermining the value of REAL (Realistic, Enabling, Actionable, Logical) Enterprise Architecture - turning a professional discipline into yet another fleeting trend much like previous waves of tool-centric or automation-driven approaches. Instead of enabling architectural vision, the rush to “AI everything” is exposing existing weaknesses and, for many organizations, acting as a costly distraction rather than a true solution.

AI is everywhere - on every page, in every boardroom pitch, and across every trend report. But as any seasoned leader and practitioners know, what creates lasting competitive edge is not the technology buzzword of the moment. It is having an operating model that empowers smart choices, no matter what tool is in play.

In this broadcast, I want to challenge the status quo: It is not “AI-powered strategy” that drives transformation. It is strategy-powered architecture - built through proven Enterprise Architecture (EACOE) and Business Architecture (BACOE).