Enterprise architecture improves organizational performance using technology, by leveraging technology investment. Organizational performance is made tangible by the use of performance measures. Performance measures may relate to money (cost, price), quality or timliness (throughput, volume). Any product or service or entire company can be measured in these categories.
Any business process can be measured and improved. These improvements also fall in the three basic categories of money (cost, price), quality or timliness (throughput, volume). When you automate or streamline some businesss process these measures change. Such a change in performance constitutes the return on investment of the automation.
A measurable change in measured performance incicators is sometimes called a "business outcome". When a new capability is operationaly implemented you get a business outcome.
"If you do anything long enough, you eventually get good at it." MK