Enterprise Architecture as a Tool for Technical Debt Management in Public Universities: Contextual Challenges and Governance Opportunities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), especially in resource‐constrained environments, face pressure to modernize IT systems while managing limited budgets and legacy infrastructure. This study explores how enterprise architecture (EA) is applied by ICT leaders in Tanzanian public universities to manage technical debt (TD) under institutional and policy constraints. It provides empirical evidence from low‐resource institutions. It draws on qualitative insights gathered through semi‐structured interviews with ICT managers, system administrators, and academic IT leads in four Tanzanian public universities. A literature review on EA and TD management supported the analysis. Findings reveal that participants view EA as a promising governance tool for mitigating TD by aligning fragmented ICT investments, improving accountability, and reducing duplication in Tanzanian HEIs. The analysis revealed barriers that HEIs face in realizing EA for effective TD management: resistance to change, insufficient technical resources, limited expertise, and difficulty quantifying Return On Investment (ROI). Nonetheless, it was identified that EA could enhance IT governance, agility, and alignment with institutional strategy. For institutional managers, EA provides a structured mechanism to streamline IT governance, optimize digital infrastructure, and align technology investments with long‐term strategic plans. This offers a critical pathway for education leaders facing budgetary constraints and digital transformation demands. The study offers empirically grounded insights into how EA is operationalized within public universities in Tanzania, contributing to the discourse on digital governance and institutional reform in the Global South. The insights are relevant for policymakers aiming to strengthen IT governance and institutional resilience in constrained education systems.