Key takeaways
- An EA Service encapsulates part of the architecture capability.
- Four service categories face customers, two face architects.
- A Service Portfolio expresses what a building block or system must provide.
- The Foundation Architecture is the most generic point of the Architecture Continuum.
Delivering architecture as services
ADM activities are often provided through a service delivery model. An Enterprise Architecture Service is an encapsulated element of EA capability that delivers a specific architecture function. Each service draws on the ADM activities that suit the need at hand, independently of the organization’s operating model.
The standard proposes six service categories. The first four face the customers of architecture; the last two mainly concern architects themselves.
The six categories
Each category matches a moment or a type of decision. Enterprise support services inform strategic decisions, even outside projects. Design support services come after a project is funded, for example with a Minimum Viable Architecture. Development support services accompany delivery.
- Enterprise Support Services: analysis for strategic decisions.
- Design Support Services: design decisions, Minimum Viable Architectures.
- Development Support Services: decisions during development.
- Requirements Elicitation and Understanding Services: bring requirements closer to the real need.
- Architecture Planning Services: prepare and run architecture projects.
- EA Practice Development Support Services: build and improve the EA practice.
Service Portfolio
A Service Portfolio is a collection of services, which may also act as an interface definition. TOGAF uses it to express what is required of a building block or system, without presuming how it will be realized.
Foundation Architecture
A Foundation Architecture brings together generic building blocks, their relationships with other building blocks, and principles and guidelines. It is the base on which more specific architectures are built.
In the Architecture Continuum it sits at the most generic end; Common Systems, Industry, and Organization-Specific Architectures are increasingly specific.
TERMS TO KNOW
The terms, in context.
- Enterprise Architecture Service
- Encapsulated element of EA capability delivering a specific architecture function.
- Service Portfolio
- Collection of services, possibly an interface definition, used to express what a building block requires.
- Foundation Architecture
- Generic building blocks, their relationships, principles, and guidelines that underpin more specific architectures.
- Minimum Viable Architecture
- Minimal architecture produced to inform the design decisions of a funded project.