Architecture framework
Encyclopedia
Conceptual framework
A conceptual framework is used in research to outline possible courses of action or to present a preferred approach to an idea or thought. For example, the philosopher Isaiah Berlin used the "hedgehogs" versus "foxes" approach; a "hedgehog" might approach the world in terms of a single organizing...
for an enterprise architecture
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
which defines how to organize the structure and views
View model
A view model or viewpoints framework in systems engineering, software engineering, and enterprise engineering is a framework which defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of a system architecture, software architecture, or enterprise architecture. A view is a representation...
associated with an enterprise architecture.
Overview
The three components of the enterprise architecture framework are:- Views : provide the mechanisms for communicating information about the relationships that are important in the architecture
- Methods : provide the discipline to gather and organize the data and construct the views in a way that helps ensure integrity, accuracy and completeness
- Training/Experience : support the application of method and use of tools
Because the discipline of enterprise engineering
Enterprise engineering
Enterprise engineering is a subdiscipline of systems engineering, which applies the knowledge and methods of systems engineering to the design of businesses. The discipline examines each aspect of the enterprise, including business processes, information flows, and organizational structure...
and enterprise architecture is so broad, and because enterprises can be large and complex, the models associated with the discipline also tend to be large and complex. To manage this scale and complexity, an Architecture Framework provides tools and methods that can bring the task into focus and allow valuable artifacts to be produced when they are most needed.
Architecture frameworks are commonly used in IT and information system
Information system
An information system - or application landscape - is any combination of information technology and people's activities that support operations, management, and decision making. In a very broad sense, the term information system is frequently used to refer to the interaction between people,...
governance. An organization may wish to mandate that certain models be produced before a system design can be approved. Similarly, they may wish to specify certain views be used in the documentation of procured systems – the U.S. Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
stipulates that specific DoDAF views be provided by equipment suppliers for capital project above a certain value.
This discussion is focused for theorical teams who will develop tools and empirical methods of quality achievments.
History
Zachman framework
The Zachman Framework is an Enterprise Architecture framework for enterprise architecture, which provides a formal and highly structured way of viewing and defining an enterprise...
in 1987. Another early implementation of an Enterprise architecture framework was the "Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management" (TAFIM). The first draft of TAFIM was completed in 1991 with the TAFIM Technical Reference Model (TAFIM TRM). This technical reference model wanted to use open systems and new technologies available in the commercial market, to develop a DoD
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
-wide application. The TOGAF
TOGAF
The Open Group Architecture Framework is a framework for enterprise architecture which provides a comprehensive approach for designing, planning, implementation, and governance of an enterprise information architecture...
TRM was originally derived from the Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management (TAFIM), which in turn was derived from the IEEE model 1003.0 or POSIX Open System Environment: a standard "to construct an information processing system, including consumers, system integrators, application developers, system providers, and procurement agencies".
In recent years, it has become apparent that a key benefit to be gained from enterprise architecture is the ability to support decision making in changing businesses. Because enterprise architecture brings together business models (e.g. process models, organizational chart
Organizational chart
An organizational chart is a diagram that shows the structure of an organization and the relationships and relative ranks of its parts and positions/jobs...
s, etc.) and technical models (e.g. systems architecture
Systems architecture
A system architecture or systems architecture is the conceptual model that defines the structure, behavior, and more views of a system.An architecture description is a formal description and representation of a system, organized in a way that supports reasoning about the structure of the system...
s, data model
Data model
A data model in software engineering is an abstract model, that documents and organizes the business data for communication between team members and is used as a plan for developing applications, specifically how data is stored and accessed....
s, state diagram
State diagram
A state diagram is a type of diagram used in computer science and related fields to describe the behavior of systems. State diagrams require that the system described is composed of a finite number of states; sometimes, this is indeed the case, while at other times this is a reasonable abstraction...
s, etc.) it is possible to trace the impact of organizational change on the systems, and also the business impact of changes to the systems.
As this benefit has emerged, many frameworks such as DoDAF, MODAF
MODAF
The British Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework is an Architecture Framework which defines a standardised way of conducting Enterprise Architecture, originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence....
, or AGATE
AGATE (architecture framework)
AGATE is a framework for modeling computer or communication systems architecture....
have adopted a standard meta model
Meta model
A meta-model typically defines the language and processes from which to form a model. It has many uses:-Computing:*Metamodeling a modeling methodology used in software engineering*MODAF Meta-Model...
which defines the critical architectural elements and the dependencies between them. Applications based on these models can then query the underlying architectural information, providing a simple and strong mechanism for tracing strategies to organizational and technological impacts.
Framework of building codes
Persons who have ever remodeled their home, know how important building codes, blueprints, and city or county inspections are to successfully complete the project. The architect operates within a "framework" of building codes, preparing blueprints for each phase of the project, from the structural changes to the size and layout of the rooms. Detailed drawings specify plumbing, electrical, and building construction information for the entire structure. Enterprise Architecture works in a similar manner.An architecture framework for IT affects every aspect of the enterprise. An enterprise architecture framework is similar to building codes that ensure the building is soundly constructed. The IT governance bodies and procedures serve as the city and county inspectors for building improvement projects. Frameworks contain models and standards that will be used to develop IT architecture descriptions. The architecture description is the blueprint.
Architecture domain
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
it is common, according to Péter Bernus
Peter Bernus
Peter Bernus is an Hungarian Australian scientist and Associate Professor of Enterprise Architecture at the School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.- Biography :...
(2005), to recognise three or four types of architecture, each corresponding to its particular architecture domain
Architecture domain
An architecture domain in enterprise architecture is a broad view of an enterprise or system. It is a partial representation of a whole system that addresses several concerns of several stakeholders...
. Examples of such domains are:
- Business architectureBusiness architectureA business architecture is a part of an enterprise architecture related to corporate business, and the documents and diagrams that describe that architectural structure of business...
, - Information systems architecture, often subdivided into
- Data architectureData architectureData Architecture in enterprise architecture is the design of data for use in defining the target state and the subsequent planning needed to achieve the target state...
, and - Application architectureApplication ArchitectureApplications architecture is one of several architecture domains that form the pillars of an enterprise architecture or solution architecture. Note that the term "application architecture" is commonly used for the internal structure of an application, for its software modularisation.Applications...
,
- Data architecture
- and Technical architectureTechnical architectureTechnical architecture is one of several architecture domains that form the pillars of an enterprise architecture or solution architecture. It describes the structure and behaviour of the technology infrastructure of an enterprise, solution or system...
.
Architectural domains are a structuring criterion for a collection of architecture products. They should not be confused with the application domain of the framework as such.
Layers of the enterprise architecture
- Business processes and activities
- Applications such as custom or off-the-shelf software tools
- Data that must be collected, organized, safeguarded, and distributed
- Technology such as computer systems and telephone networks
The Architecture Domains follow a pattern of decomposition as one goes from top to the bottom of the framework. The ownership can be divided into 4 broad categories: planner's view, owner's view, designer's view and developer's view in this order. All the views are mostly hierarchical in nature. For business view the planner and owner's level is typically called the value chains (which are descriptive by nature). The designer's view of business is also known as the analytical view and there are various standards for modeling this view. One mostly commonly used modeling standard is the Business Process Modeling Notation
Business Process Modeling Notation
Business Process Model and Notation is a graphical representation for specifying business processes in a business process model. It was previously known as Business Process Modeling Notation....
(BPMN). The designer's view typically represents the execution level which uses standards like Business Process Execution Language
Business Process Execution Language
Business Process Execution Language , short for Web Services Business Process Execution Language is an OASIS standard executable language for specifying actions within business processes with web services...
(BPEL).
Enterprise architecture domains and subdomains
The application and technology domains (which are not to be confused with business domains) are characterized by domain capabilities and domain services. The capabilities are supported by the services. The application services are also referred in service-oriented architectureService-oriented architecture
In software engineering, a Service-Oriented Architecture is a set of principles and methodologies for designing and developing software in the form of interoperable services. These services are well-defined business functionalities that are built as software components that can be reused for...
(SOA). The technical services are typically supported by software products.
The data view starts with the data classes which can be decomposed into data subjects which can be further decomposed into data entities. The basic data model type which is most commonly used is called merda (master entity relationship diagrams assessment, see entity-relationship model
Entity-relationship model
In software engineering, an entity-relationship model is an abstract and conceptual representation of data. Entity-relationship modeling is a database modeling method, used to produce a type of conceptual schema or semantic data model of a system, often a relational database, and its requirements...
). The Class, subject and entity forms a hierarchical view of data. Enterprises do have millions of instances of data entities.
The Enterprise Architecture Reference Traditional Model offers clear distinction between the architecture domains (business, information/data, application/integration and technical/infrastructure). These domains can be further divided into Sub domain disciplines. An example of the EA domain and sub domains is in the image on the right.
Many enterprise architecture teams consists of Individuals with Skills aligned with the Enterprise Architecture Domains and sub-domain disciplines. for example : enterprise business architect, enterprise documentational architect, enterprise application architect, enterprise infrastructure architect, enterprise information architect, etc, etc, etc.
An example of the list of reference architecture architecture patterns in the application and information architecture domains are available at Architectural pattern (computer science)
Architectural pattern (computer science)
An architectural pattern in software is a standard design in the field of software architecture. The concept of a software architectural pattern has a broader scope than the concept of a software design pattern...
View model
View model
A view model or viewpoints framework in systems engineering, software engineering, and enterprise engineering is a framework which defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of a system architecture, software architecture, or enterprise architecture. A view is a representation...
is a framework, which defines the set of views or approaches to be used in systems analysis
Systems analysis
Systems analysis is the study of sets of interacting entities, including computer systems analysis. This field is closely related to requirements analysis or operations research...
or systems design
Systems design
Systems design is the process of defining the architecture, components, modules, interfaces, and data for a system to satisfy specified requirements. One could see it as the application of systems theory to product development...
or the construction of an enterprise architecture
Enterprise architecture
An enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
.
Since the early 1990s there have been a number of efforts to define standard approaches for describing and analyzing system architectures. Many of the recent Enterprise Architecture frameworks have some kind of set of views defined, but these sets are not always called "view models".
Standardisation
A first important standard in the field of software architectureSoftware architecture
The software architecture of a system is the set of structures needed to reason about the system, which comprise software elements, relations among them, and properties of both...
and system architecture is IEEE 1471
IEEE 1471
IEEE 1471 is an IEEE Standard for describing the architecture of a software-intensive system, also known as software architecture.- Overview :...
, an IEEE Standard for describing the architecture of a software-intensive system approved in 2000. This standard has been adopted by the International Organization for Standardization
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
(ISO) and published as ISO/IEC 42010:2007, still identical to the IEEE 1471:2000. In 2006 a technical committee
ISO/IEC JTC1
ISO/IEC JTC 1 is Joint Technical Committee 1 of the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission . It deals with all matters of information technology....
of the ISO launched a revision of this standard, what will be the ISO/IEC 42010
ISO/IEC 42010
ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 Systems and software engineering — Architecture description is an international standard for architecture descriptions of systems and software.-Overview:...
standard.
This ISO/IEC 42010 standard defines architecture framework and specifies requirements for standardization of frameworks. An architecture framework is defined as:
- conventions, principles and practices for the description of architectures established within a specific domain of application and/or community of stakeholders
An architecture framework is specified by:
- the relevant stakeholders in the domain,
- the types of concerns arising in that domain,
- architeture viewpoints framming those concerns and
- correspondence rules integrating those viewpoints cited before.
Frameworks conforming to the standard can include methods, tools, definitions, methods and other practices beyond those specified.
As of now, spring 2011, the standard is a Final Draft International Standard, the last stage before official publication.
Consortia-developed frameworks
- EABOKEABOKThe Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge is a guide to Enterprise Architecture produced by MITRE , and is substantially funded by US government agencies. It provides a critical review of enterprise architecture issues in the context of the needs of an organization...
(The Guide to the Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge) – a U.S. Federal-funded guide to EA in the context of legislative and strategic business requirements. - Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and MethodologyGeneralised Enterprise Reference Architecture and MethodologyGeneralised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology is a generalised Enterprise Architecture framework for enterprise integration and business process engineering. It identifies the set of components recommended for use in enterprise engineering.This framework is developed in the 1990s...
(GERAM) - IDEAS GroupIDEAS GroupThe IDEAS Group is the International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification for exchange Group. The deliverable of the project is a data exchange format for military Enterprise Architectures. The scope is four nation and covers MODAF , DoDAF , and the Australian Defence Architecture...
– a four-nation effort to develop a common ontology for architecture interoperability - RM-ODPRM-ODPReference Model of Open Distributed Processing is a reference model in computer science, which provides a co-ordinating framework for the standardization of open distributed processing...
– the Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (ITU-T Rec. X.901-X.904 | ISO/IEC 10746) defines an enterprise architecture framework for structuring the specifications of openOpen system (computing)Open systems are computer systems that provide some combination of interoperability, portability, and open software standards. The term was popularized in the early 1980s, mainly to describe systems based on Unix,...
distributed systems. - TOGAFTOGAFThe Open Group Architecture Framework is a framework for enterprise architecture which provides a comprehensive approach for designing, planning, implementation, and governance of an enterprise information architecture...
– the Open Group Architecture Framework – a widely used framework including an Architectural Development Method and standards for describing various types of architecture. - Good enough architecture methodologyGood enough architecture methodologyThe main objective of The Good enough Architecture MEthodology is to create a good enough ground for an IT solution by using methods and best practices for gathering and analysing the adequate requirements that enable the design, development and establishment of a good enough architecture.The...
– a methodology based on experiences, results and best-practices gathered through real-life implementations of various building blocks that altogether provide a realizable architecture and working solutions. - ARCONArçonArçon is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
– A Reference Architecture for Collaborative Networks – not focused on a single enterprise but rather on networks of enterprises
Open-source frameworks
Enterprise architecture frameworks that are released as open sourceOpen Source Definition
The Open Source Definition is a document published by the Open Source Initiative, to determine whether or not a software license can be labeled with the open-source certification mark....
:
- TRAKTRAKTRAK is a general enterprise architecture framework aimed at systems engineers based on MODAF 1.2.-History:TRAK was originally commissioned by London Underground Limited...
– a general systems-oriented framework based on MODAFMODAFThe British Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework is an Architecture Framework which defines a standardised way of conducting Enterprise Architecture, originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence....
1.2 and released under GPLGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
/GFDL. - MEGAF is an infrastructure for realizing architecture frameworks that conform to the definition of architecture framework provided in the ISO/IEC 42010ISO/IEC 42010ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 Systems and software engineering — Architecture description is an international standard for architecture descriptions of systems and software.-Overview:...
standard. - PraxemePraxemePraxeme is a methodology for enterprise architecture which provides a structured approach to the design and implementation of an enterprise information architecture and which focuses on the enterprise as a system.- History :...
, an open enterprise methodology, contains an enterprise architecture framework called the Enterprise System Topology (EST) - GODGöd- Industry :Göd is famous for its thriving tourism. It has a thermal spa open almost 365 days a year with its water already declared as rich in minerals...
, an generalist observation methodology, contains an enterprise architecture framework based on observation, an innovative certified approach provided in the SDFL Department of DUJ. - SABSA is an open framework and methodology for Enterprise Security Architecture and Service Management, that is risk based and focuses on integrating security into business and IT management.
- LMO – "A Living Mindmap of the Organisation" is an open EA technique that uses a Mind mapMind mapA mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Especially in British English, the terms spidergram and spidergraph are more common, but they can cause confusion with the term spider diagram used in mathematics...
to describe an organisation in terms of its Resources, Processes and Projects.
Proprietary frameworks
- Avancier Methods (AM) Processes and documentation advice for enterprise and solution architects, supported by training and certification.
- Solution Architecting Mechanism (SAM) – A coherent architecture framework consisting of a set of integral modules.
- Integrated Architecture FrameworkIntegrated Architecture FrameworkIntegrated Architecture Framework is an enterprise architecture framework that covers business, information, information system and technology infrastructure....
(IAF) – from CapgeminiCapgeminiCapgemini is a French global IT services company, one of the world's largest management consulting, outsourcing and professional services companies with a staff of 114,274 operating in 40 countries. It is headquartered in Paris and was founded in 1967 by Serge Kampf, the current chairman, in...
company in 1993 - CLEAR Framework for Enterprise ArchitectureCLEAR Framework for Enterprise ArchitectureCLEAR is an Enterprise Architecture meta-model, framework and method. CLEAR stands for Comprehensive, Landscaped, Enterprise Architecture Representation....
– Atos Origin's Enterprise Architecture Framework - OBASHIOBASHIThe OBASHI® methodology provides a framework and method for capturing, illustrating and modeling the relationships, dependencies and dataflows between business and Information technology assets and resources in a business context....
– the OBASHI Business & IT methodology and framework - Information FrameWorkInformation FrameworkThe Information FrameWork is a Enterprise Architecture framework, originally conceived by Roger Evernden in 1996. The Information FrameWork is a family of data, process and object models to help financial institutions transform cross-enterprise architectures...
(IFW) – conceived by Roger Evernden in 1996 - Zachman FrameworkZachman frameworkThe Zachman Framework is an Enterprise Architecture framework for enterprise architecture, which provides a formal and highly structured way of viewing and defining an enterprise...
– an architecture framework, based on the work of John ZachmanJohn ZachmanJohn A. Zachman is an American business and IT consultant, early pioneer of enterprise architecture, Chief Executive Officer of Zachman International, and originator of the Zachman Framework.- Biography :...
at IBM in the 1980s
Defense industry frameworks
- DoDAF – the US Department of Defense Architecture Framework
- MODAFMODAFThe British Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework is an Architecture Framework which defines a standardised way of conducting Enterprise Architecture, originally developed by the UK Ministry of Defence....
– the UK Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework - NAFNATO Architecture FrameworkThe NATO Architecture Framework is an Enterprise Architecture framework by the NATO derived from the DoDAF Enterprise architecture.The current NATO C3 System Architecture Framework v2 , issued by NATO in September 2004 provides guidance on describing communication and information systems...
– the NATO Architecture Framework - AGATEAGATE (architecture framework)AGATE is a framework for modeling computer or communication systems architecture....
– the France DGA Architecture Framework - DNDAF – the DND/CF Architecture Framework (CAN)
Government frameworks
- Government Enterprise ArchitectureGovernment Enterprise ArchitectureThe Government Enterprise Architecture is an initiative of the Queensland Chief Information Office in Australia and provides a guiding framework for Queensland Government's development, use, and management of information technology assets...
(GEA) – a common framework legislated for use by departments of the Queensland Government - FDIC Enterprise Architecture FrameworkFDIC Enterprise Architecture FrameworkFDIC Enterprise Architecture Framework is the Enterprise Architecture framework of the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation...
- Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF) – a framework produced in 1999 by the US Federal CIO Council for use within the US Government, not to be confused with the 2002 Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) guidance on categorizing and grouping IT investments, issued by the US Federal Office of Management and Budget
- NIST Enterprise Architecture ModelNIST Enterprise Architecture ModelNIST Enterprise Architecture Model is a reference model for Enterprise Architecture, that illustrates the interrelationship of enterprise business, information, and technology environments....
- Treasury Enterprise Architecture FrameworkTreasury Enterprise Architecture FrameworkTreasury Enterprise Architecture Framework is an Enterprise architecture framework for treasury, based on the Zachman Framework.It was developed by the US Department of the Treasury and published in July 2000.- Overview :...
(TEAF) – a framework for treasuryTreasuryA treasury is either*A government department related to finance and taxation.*A place where currency or precious items is/are kept....
, published by the US Department of the Treasury in July 2000. - Nederlandse Overheid Referentie Architectuur (NORA) – a reference framework from the Dutch Government E-overheid NORA
See also
- Architecture patterns (EA reference architecture)
- Enterprise architectureEnterprise architectureAn enterprise architecture is a rigorous description of the structure of an enterprise, which comprises enterprise components , the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them...
- Enterprise architecture planningEnterprise Architecture PlanningEnterprise Architecture Planning in Enterprise Architecture is the planning process of defining architectures for the use of information in support of the business and the plan for implementing those architectures.- Overview :...
- Enterprise engineeringEnterprise engineeringEnterprise engineering is a subdiscipline of systems engineering, which applies the knowledge and methods of systems engineering to the design of businesses. The discipline examines each aspect of the enterprise, including business processes, information flows, and organizational structure...
- ISO/IEC 42010ISO/IEC 42010ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 Systems and software engineering — Architecture description is an international standard for architecture descriptions of systems and software.-Overview:...
- Reference architectureReference architectureA reference architecture in the field of software architecture or enterprise architecture provides a template solution for an architecture for a particular domain. It also provides a common vocabulary with which to discuss implementations, often with the aim to stress commonality...