Business Architecture

Business Architecture

This is the Business view of the Enterprise Architecture which is centered around a description of how an organisation works in terms of its business processes.

The Business Architecture Domain includes:

  • Business Strategy - this will typically include the high-level Business Goals and Objectives and a document describing the Target Operating Model.
  • Business Services - this describes the products and services an organisation offers and sells to its customers.
  • Business Information - this describes the structure of the business information needed by each business processes and information created by business processes. Includes knowledge and meaning.
  • Business Processes - this defines the business processes, organisation structure and roles that are required to define and operate an organisation.
  • Business Events - this defines the triggering events received by the organisation to which it must respond, and the outgoing notification events that an organisation creates.
  • Event Value Chains - this defines the flow and sequence of business processes/activities that are triggered by a business event and resulting in added value.
  • Organisation Architecture - this defines the organisation structure, roles and responsibilities that are required in an organisation.
  • Business Functions - this defines the functions and capabilities that are required within the organisation
  • Organisation Services - this defines the services that are provided by people (as opposed to those provided by applications).
  • Capabilities - this defines the functions, behaviours and services that may be provided by the organisation units (internal Actors and Business Roles)

Business Architecture Standards and Guidelines

Standards and guidelines concerning Business procedures and methods.

Business Architecture Design Review Guidelines

Guidelines for performing and participating in design reviews and modelling workshops.

Context Diagram

A Context Diagram is developed to establish the scope and context for all the Business processes.

Business Process Model

Business Process Diagrams showing the decomposition of higher level Business Processes into sub-Business Processes.

Process Frameworks

The eTOM Process Framework is a useful reference to get started.
See also eTOM.

APQC's Process Classification Framework(PCF) accelerates benchmarking performance and creates effective business processes. By outlining common definitions and processes, the PCF enables organizations to make apples-to-apples comparisons and obtain accurate benchmarks and metrics.
The following Process Classification Frameworks can be downloaded from APQC in PDF or Excel formats:

  • Cross-Industry PCF
  • Aerospace and Defense
  • Automotive
  • Banking
  • Broadcasting
  • Consumer Products
  • Electric Utilities
  • Petroleum Downstream
  • Petroleum Upstream
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Telecommunications

Business Event Value Streams

Business Process Diagrams using swim lanes showing the Business Events and the Business Processes that are triggered by them.

Matrices

Business Events/Business Process Matrix

A table that shows the relationship of the Business Events to Business Processes.

Actor Roles/Business Process Matrix

A table that shows the relationship of external and internal Roles to Business Processes.

Actor Roles/Use Case Matrix

A table that shows the relationship of Actors to Use Cases.

A Business Architecture Framework

Below is a good example of a Business Architecture Framework created by Steve Bacall and published in his Blog

Bacall%27s%2BBusiness%2BArchitecture%2BFramework.JPG

Source: http://nevermindthebusiness.blogspot.com/

Meta Models

ArchiMate Business Layer Meta Model

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Articles

Enterprise Business Architecture The Formal Link between Strategy and Results
Building Blocks for Enterprise Business Architecture
Solving the Mythical Business to IT gap
Who owns Business Architecture?
Core business architecture for a service-oriented enterprise

Example Business Architecture

NIH Enterprise Architecture

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