Architecture Artifacts

Understanding Architecture Artifacts: A Guide to Organizational Blueprints

Architecture artifacts are integral to the process of planning and implementing enterprise architecture. These artifacts serve as the foundational blueprints that guide the development of a company's IT structure and strategy. 

Frameworks: These high-level models offer guidance on adhering to a set of standards and best practices, much like the framework of a building provides its basic structure. While frameworks don’t directly achieve outcomes, they lay out the set of rules and practices that, if followed, lead to positive results.

Models: Think of models as dynamic blueprints that connect various aspects of an enterprise, such as data points, subjects, or objects. They are iterative, meaning they evolve over time and their modifications can have ripple effects across the architecture. As live documents, they're often updated with dynamic tools to reflect changes in real-time.

Views: In the context of TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework), a view is tailored to represent the architecture in a way that's meaningful to specific stakeholders. It filters the architecture components to show only what's relevant to a particular audience, thus simplifying the complexity of the architecture.

Diagrams: These are the static snapshots of specific aspects of the architecture. Unlike models, diagrams are not typically updated in real-time and represent a moment in time. They are straightforward and focus on illustrating a particular part of the architecture without showing the interconnections.

Together, these artifacts create a comprehensive map of an organization’s architecture, each serving a distinct purpose in the process of planning, executing, and managing the IT strategy. Understanding each type is crucial for stakeholders to effectively navigate and contribute to the architecture of their organization.