XEA is eXtreme. Its prefix is borrowed from eXtreme Programming (XP). Just like XP is a lightweight software development methodology,eXtreme Enterprise Architecture is a lightweight, efficient, low-risk, flexible, predictable and fun way to develop technology portfolios.

XEA is about establishing and maintaining a technology portfolio,which in and of itself, is only a foundation upon which rests the rest of enterprise architecture. XEA starts at the next to last row of the Zachman Framework -- the one labeled Technology Model.

XEA consists of four distinct steps: (1) products; (2)collections; (3) version control; and (4) process & lifecycle.