I am really excited about the new release of ArchiMate. The reason I am so excited is that for the first time ArchiMate complements TOGAF with a compelling, versatile and unambiguous visual modeling language that covers the end to end enterprise architecture development method and not just solution architecture. Not only do we have the next evolution of the standard but it also comes backed with the training and certification aspects as well that makes this a very real and implementable standard.
This post is centered around some of the key highlights distilled from the my previous two posts (The Open Group Releases ArchiMate 2.0 , ArchiMate 2.0 Certification Released) and some additional analysis of the recent release of ArchiMate.
In general, the ArchiMate 2.0 aids in the following ways:
- Helps model the enterprise architecture
- Works in a manner aligned with TOGAF
- Supports the preparation and management of:
- Business change
- Application rationalization
- Program and portfolio management
- Outsourcing scenarios
- Improves business and IT alignment
- Performs cost analysis and business case calculations
Additionally, there are six key aspect you should know about the new Archimate 2.0 specification.
#1 Improved and Expanded
- Based on many years of practical experience of modeling and analysis of Enterprise Architecture by a world-wide user base
- ArchiMate 2.0 now enables the creation of fully integrated models of the organization’s enterprise architecture, the motivation for it, and the programs, projects and migration paths to implement it
#2 Now fully aligned with TOGAF
With ArchiMate 2.0, it’s the first fully integrated version with TOGAF. With the updates of TOGAF 9.1 (clean up of the spec) and ArchiMate 2.0 we finally have a real modeling notation for EA. It promises to provide a vendor-independent set of concepts, that helps to create a consistent, integrated model “below the waterline”, which can be depicted in the form of TOGAF views.
- Integrated, consistent and coherent modeling in various phases
- Specifically designed for enterprise architecture
- Full support for viewpoints (predefined and user-defined) that supports generation of compelling views for various stakeholders from a central repository
- Not just the ‘boxes’, but also their interrelationships
- Explicit support for the service paradigm that defines business, application and infrastructure services with concrete, visible results for various stakeholders can be generated from a repository
- Impact-of-change, gap analysis, etc.
- Easy reuse of models, maintained in shared repository
#3 Improved TOGAF ADM alignment
- The language structure of the ArchiMate Core corresponds with the three main architectures as addressed in phases B, C & D in the TOGAF ADM
- The extensions to the Core closely correspond with the main aspects to be addressed in the Preliminary phase, Phase A and the Central Requirements management repository, as well as Phases E, F, G and H
The largest alignment area is the Architecture Metamodel as shown below:
However, there are great examples for each phase are shown below:
Preliminary Phase
Team Organization
Building Architecture Principles
A – Vision
Stakeholder Analysis
Business Goals
Architecture Vision
B – Business Architecture
Business Architecture
Realization of Requirements
C – Information Systems Architecture
Baseline / Current State Architecture
Target / Future State Architecture
Gap Analysis
Process Application Support
Information Structure View
Data Dissemination Diagram
D – Technology Architecture
Baseline Technology Architecture Model
Target Technology Architecture
Technology Architecture Gap Analysis
Platform Decomposition Diagram
Application / Technology Support Map
E – Opportunities and Solutions
Transition Architectures
F – Migration Planning
Projects for the Transitions between Plateaus
H & RM – Architecture Change Management & Requirements Management
Traceability Model
#4 ArchiMate 2.0 improves collaboration
By promoting a growth in shared understanding across multiple information roles including business executives, enterprise architects, systems analysts, software engineers, business process consultants and infrastructure engineers
#5 New Core extensions
- The Motivation extension to model stakeholders, drivers for change, business goals, principles and requirements
- The Implementation & Migration extension to support project portfolio management, gap analysis and transition and migration planning
#6 Inconsistencies have been removed
- Examples have been improved
- Additional text has been inserted
- Certain aspects clarified
