TOGAF Definitions Flashcards
The technique of providing summarized or generalized descriptions of detailed and complex content.
1 Abstraction Abstraction, as in “level of abstraction”, can also mean providing a focus for analysis that is concerned with a consistent and common level of detail or abstraction. Abstraction in this sense is typically used in architecture to allow a consistent level of definition and understanding to be achieved in each area of the architecture in order to support effective communication and decision-making. It is especially useful when dealing with large and complex architectures as it allows relevant issues to be identified before further detail is attempted.
A person, organization, or system that has one or more roles that initiates or interacts with activities; for example, a sales representative who travels to visit customers. They may be internal or external to an organization.
2 Actor In the automotive industry, an original equipment manufacturer would be considered an actor by an automotive dealership that interacts with its supply chain activities.
A description of the structure and interaction of the applications as groups of capabilities that provide key business functions and manage the data assets.
3 Application Architecture Application Architecture is described in Part II, 10. Phase C: Information Systems Architectures - Application Architecture .
An encapsulation of application functionality aligned to implementation structure, which is modular and replaceable. It encapsulates its behavior and data, provides services, and makes them available through interfaces.
4 Application Component For example, a business application such as an accounting, payroll, or CRM system.
The collection of technology components of hardware and software that provide the services used to support applications.
5 Application Platform
The combination of distinctive features related to the specific context within which architecture is performed or expressed; a collection of principles and characteristics that steer or constrain how an architecture is formed.
6 Architectural Style
- The fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment embodied in its elements, relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolution. (Source: ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011)
7 Architecture
A constituent of the architecture model that describes a single aspect of the overall model.
8 Architecture Building Block (ABB)
A part of the Enterprise Continuum. A repository of architectural elements with increasing detail and specialization.
9 Architecture Continuum This Continuum begins with foundational definitions like reference models, core strategies, and basic building blocks. From there it spans to Industry Architectures and all the way to an Organization-Specific Architecture.
The core of the TOGAF framework. A multi-phase, iterative approach to develop and use an Enterprise Architecture to shape and govern business transformation and implementation projects.
10 Architecture Development Method (ADM) The ADM is described in Part II: Architecture Development Method (ADM).
The architectural area being considered. The TOGAF framework has four primary ones: business, data, application, and technology. Others may also be considered (e.g., security).
11 Architecture Domain
A conceptual structure used to plan, develop, implement, govern, and sustain an architecture.
12 Architecture Framework
The practice of monitoring and directing architecture-related work. The goal is to deliver desired outcomes and adhere to relevant principles, standards, and roadmaps.
13 Architecture Governance
The layout and representation of assets in use, or planned, by the enterprise at particular points in time.
14 Architecture Landscape
A representation of a subject of interest within an architecture, providing a smaller scale, simplified, and/or abstract representation of the subject matter.
15 Architecture Model An architecture model provides a smaller scale, simplified, and/or abstract representation of the subject matter.
A qualitative statement of intent that should be met by the architecture.
16 Architecture Principle A sample set of Architecture Principles is defined in Part III, 20. Architecture Principles .
A representation of a system from the perspective of a related set of concerns.
17 Architecture View In some sections of this standard, the term “view” is used as a synonym for “architecture view”.
A specification of the conventions for a particular kind of architecture view.
18 Architecture Viewpoint An architecture viewpoint can also be seen as the definition or schema for that kind of architecture view. It establishes the conventions for constructing, interpreting, and using an architecture view to address a specific concern (or set of concerns) about a system-of-interest.
A succinct description of the Target Architecture that describes its business value and the changes to the enterprise that will result from its successful deployment. It serves as an aspirational and a boundary for detailed architecture development.
19 Architecture Vision Phase A (Architecture Vision) is described in Part II, 6. Phase A: Architecture Vision .
An architectural work product that describes an aspect of the architecture.
20 Artifact
A specification that has been formally reviewed and agreed upon, that thereafter serves as the basis for further development or change and that can be changed only through formal change control procedures or a type of procedure such as configuration management.
21 Baseline
A shorthand representation of “access to integrated information to support business process improvements” representing a desired state of an enterprise’s infrastructure specific to the business needs of the organization.
22 Boundaryless Information Flow™ The need for Boundaryless Information Flow - a trademark of The Open Group - is described in the TOGAF® Series Guide: The TOGAF Integrated Information Infrastructure Reference Model (III-RM).
A (potentially re-usable) component of enterprise capability that can be combined with others to deliver architectures and solutions.
23 Building Block Building blocks can be defined at various levels of detail, depending on what stage of architecture development has been reached. For instance, at an early stage, a building block can simply consist of a name or an outline description. Later on, a building block may be decomposed into multiple supporting building blocks and may be accompanied by a full specification. Building blocks can relate to “architectures” or “solutions”.
A representation of holistic, multi-dimensional business views of: capabilities, end-to-end value delivery, information, and organizational structure; and the relationships among these business views and strategies, products, policies, initiatives, and stakeholders.
24 Business Architecture Business Architecture relates business elements to business goals and elements of other domains.
