What are the first four steps to an EA?

• A. Identify Objectives, Assumptions, Constraints & Alternatives
• B. Define scope, stakeholders, budget, procurement
• C. Analyze risks, alternatives, report results, approve
• D. Collect data, build model, run simulations, present results

Answer: (A)

In enterprise architecture planning, you start by framing the effort around what you want to achieve and the boundaries you must operate within. Identifying objectives gives you a clear target state and what success looks like. Stating assumptions records the beliefs you’re counting on, which can influence which options are considered viable. Outlining constraints flags the limits you must respect, such as budget, policy, or timing, which shape feasible solutions. Laying out alternatives then surfaces the different paths you could take to reach the objective, enabling you to compare trade-offs early.

This foundation is essential before you move on to data gathering, modeling, risk analysis, or governance steps, because those activities depend on having a well-defined direction and boundary conditions. The other steps described in the distractors—defining scope and stakeholders, budgeting and procurement, or performing analyses and presenting results—are important later phases that build on the initial framing.