The Open Group Architecture Framework

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Question book-new.svg
 This article relies on references to primary sources. Please add references to secondary or tertiary sources. (June 2012)
TOGAF 8.1.1 ADM.[1]

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF®) is a framework for enterprise architecture which provides a comprehensive approach for designing, planning, implementing, and governing an enterprise information architecture. TOGAF is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries. [2]

TOGAF is a high level and holistic approach to design, which is typically modeled at four levels: Business, Application, Data, and Technology. It tries to give a well-tested overall starting model to information architects, which can then be built upon. It relies heavily on modularization, standardization and already existing, proven technologies and products.

Contents

Overview [edit]

An architecture framework is a set of tools which can be used for developing a broad range of different architectures.[3] It should:

  • describe a method for defining an information system in terms of a set of building blocks
  • show how the building blocks fit together
  • contain a set of tools
  • provide a common vocabulary
  • include a list of recommended standards
  • include a list of compliant products that can be used to implement the building blocks

TOGAF is such an architecture framework.

The ANSI/IEEE Standard 1471-2000 specification of architecture (of software-intensive systems) may be stated as: "the fundamental organization of a system, embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and the environment, and the principles governing its design and evolution."

However TOGAF has its own view, which may be specified as either a "formal description of a system, or a detailed plan of the system at component level to guide its implementation", or as "the structure of components, their interrelationships, and the principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over time."

History [edit]

DoD Standards-Based Architecture Planning Process in TAFIM.[4]

TOGAF is developed by The Open Group Architecture Forum and has been continuously evolving since the mid-1990s. In 1995, the first version of TOGAF Version was presented, which was:

"...based on the Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management (TAFIM). The US Department of Defence gave The Open Group explicit permission and encouragement to create TOGAF by building on the TAFIM, which itself was the result of many years of development effort and many millions of dollars of US Government investment."[5]

TOGAF 7 ("Technical Edition") was published in December 2001. TOGAF 8 ("Enterprise Edition") was first published in December 2002 and republished in updated form as TOGAF 8.1 in December 2003, which was updated in November 2006 as TOGAF 8.1.1. According to The Open Group, as of February 2011, over 15,000 individuals are TOGAF Certified.[6] As of September 2012 the official register has over 20,000 certified individuals.

The latest version is TOGAF 9.1, launched on 1 December 2011. An evolutionary development from TOGAF 8, TOGAF 9[7] includes many new features including:[citation needed]

  • Increased rigor, including a formal Content Metamodel that links the artifacts of TOGAF together
  • Elimination of unnecessary differences
  • Many more examples and templates

Additional guidelines and techniques include:[citation needed]

  • A formal business-driven approach to architecture
  • Business capability-based planning
  • Guidance on how to use TOGAF to develop Security Architectures and SOAs

The Open Group provides TOGAF free of charge to organizations for their own internal noncommercial purposes.[8]

TOGAF topics [edit]

Enterprise architecture domains [edit]

TOGAF is based on four interrelated domains

  1. Business
  2. Data
  3. Application
  4. Technology

Alternative enterprise architecture frameworks [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Stephen Marley (2003). Architectural Framework. NASA /SCI. Retrieved 10 Dec 2008.
  2. ^ TOGAF Trademark
  3. ^ TOGAF Introduction The Open Group Architecture Framework. Accessed 22 Jan 2009.
  4. ^ Department of Defense (1996). Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management. Vol. 4. April 1996
  5. ^ The Open Group (2009). Welcome to TOGAF Version 9 -- The Open Group Architecture Framework. Retrieved on 2009-02-03 from http://www.opengroup.org/architecture/togaf9-doc/arch/.
  6. ^ 15,000 certifications
  7. ^ TOGAF 9.1 White Paper An Introduction to TOGAF Version 9.1 http://www.opengroup.org/togaf/
  8. ^ The Open Group (2011). TOGAF® Version 9 - Download. Architecture Forum. Retrieved on 2011-11-17 from http://www.opengroup.org/architecture/togaf9/downloads.htm.
  9. ^ L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, Collaborative Networks: Reference Modeling, Springer, 2008.
  10. ^ L.M. Camarinha-Matos, H. Afsarmanesh, On reference models for collaborative networked organizations, International Journal Production Research, Vol 46, Nº 9, May 2008, pp 2453–2469.
 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2008)

External links [edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Open_Group_Architecture_Framework&oldid=554802081"