How do you define and communicate the scope and boundaries of each architecture partition in TOGAF?

1 Understand the partitioning criteria

Before you create any architecture partition, you need to understand the criteria that will guide your partitioning decisions. These criteria can be based on factors such as business units, geographical regions, functional areas, application systems, or architectural viewpoints. You should also consider the dependencies, interfaces, and impacts of each partition on the others, as well as the governance and change management implications. The partitioning criteria should be aligned with the enterprise's vision, goals, and principles, and reflect the needs and expectations of the stakeholders.

2 Define the partition scope and boundaries

Once you have identified the partitioning criteria, you can define the scope and boundaries of each architecture partition. The scope defines what is included and excluded from the partition, while the boundaries define the limits and interfaces of the partition. You can use various techniques to define the partition scope and boundaries, such as scoping diagrams, matrices, tables, or narratives. You should also document the rationale, assumptions, and constraints behind your partitioning choices, and validate them with the stakeholders.

3 Communicate the partition scope and boundaries

After you have defined the partition scope and boundaries, you need to communicate them to the relevant stakeholders and architecture practitioners. You can use different methods to communicate the partition scope and boundaries, such as presentations, reports, models, or diagrams. You should also explain the benefits, risks, and trade-offs of your partitioning approach, and solicit feedback and input from the stakeholders. You should also update and maintain the partition scope and boundaries as the architecture work progresses and evolves.

4 Use the Architecture Repository

One of the best ways to store and share your architecture partitions is to use the Architecture Repository, a tool provided by TOGAF. The Architecture Repository is a logical structure that organizes and classifies your architecture artifacts according to their type, purpose, and status. It also supports the governance and change management of your architecture partitions. You can use the Architecture Repository to create, update, access, and reuse your architecture partitions, as well as to track their relationships and dependencies.

5 Apply the ADM

Another way to define and communicate your architecture partitions is to apply the Architecture Development Method (ADM), a process provided by TOGAF. The ADM is a cycle of phases that guides you through the development, implementation, and maintenance of your enterprise architectures. You can use the ADM to plan, execute, and monitor your architecture work for each partition, as well as to align them with the overall enterprise architecture. You can also use the ADM to adapt and customize your architecture partitions to suit different contexts and scenarios.

6 Follow the best practices

To ensure effective and consistent architecture partitions, you should use a clear and consistent naming convention. Additionally, you should be mindful of the number of partitions created, and ensure that the level of detail and abstraction is balanced. Further, your architecture partitions should be aligned with the architecture principles and standards, and reviewed and updated regularly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?