How do you align your business architecture with TOGAF?

1 Understand the ADM

The core of TOGAF is the Architecture Development Method (ADM), a cyclic process that guides you through the creation, implementation, and maintenance of your enterprise architecture. The ADM consists of nine phases, from the preliminary phase that defines the scope, principles, and stakeholders of your architecture, to the requirements management phase that ensures the alignment of your architecture with the business needs. Each phase has a set of inputs, outputs, steps, and techniques that you can tailor to your specific context and objectives. To align your business architecture with TOGAF, you need to understand the ADM and how it can help you deliver value to your organization.

2 Define your business architecture

One of the phases of the ADM is the business architecture phase, where you define the business strategy, goals, drivers, processes, functions, and organizational structure of your enterprise. This phase helps you establish the baseline and target states of your business architecture, as well as the gaps and opportunities for improvement. To define your business architecture, you can use various techniques and models, such as the Business Model Canvas, the Value Stream Map, the Business Capability Map, and the Organization Chart. You can also use the TOGAF Business Architecture Reference Model, which provides a generic framework and vocabulary for describing business architectures.

3 Align your business architecture with other domains

Another phase of the ADM is the architecture alignment phase, where you ensure the consistency and integration of your business architecture with the other architecture domains, such as data, application, and technology. This phase helps you identify the dependencies, interfaces, and impacts of your business architecture on the rest of your enterprise architecture. To align your business architecture with other domains, you can use various techniques and models, such as the Business-IT Alignment Model, the Business-Data Matrix, the Application Portfolio Catalog, and the Technology Standards Catalog. You can also use the TOGAF Content Metamodel, which defines the structure and relationships of the architecture artifacts and deliverables.

4 Govern your business architecture

The last phase of the ADM is the architecture governance phase, where you monitor, control, and evaluate the performance and compliance of your business architecture. This phase helps you ensure the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of your business architecture, as well as its alignment with the business strategy and vision. To govern your business architecture, you can use various techniques and models, such as the Balanced Scorecard, the Architecture Maturity Assessment, the Architecture Change Management, and the Architecture Governance Framework. You can also use the TOGAF Architecture Governance Guide, which provides best practices and recommendations for establishing and operating an architecture governance function.

5 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?