Why are there reoccurring themes of failure in Enterprise Architecture? Why do some technologies get reinvented? How come some ideas appear from nowhere and disappear just as quick while others take hold and form a reliable, almost invisible, part of the infrastructure? How many projects have been wrecked on the Siren's song of integrated and unified architecture?

James Lewis will be giving a talk aimed not just at identifying technologies but looking at what makes successful solutions work and others fail. How can you objectively judge whether a "hot" technology is going to solve your problems or only has a niche application? How do you balance commodity solutions with bespoke work? Where is the essence of your business and what is infrastructure?