An EAM framework comprises a predefined set of methods and tools for developing enter- prise architectures and enterprise architecture practice [11b].
EAM Framework Foundations
According to the ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011 an architecture framework is defined as being a
"Predefined set of concerns, stakeholders, viewpoints, and viewpoint correspondence rules; established to capture common practices for architecture descriptions within specific domains or user communities" [11a]. This means, frameworks offer approaches supporting the maintenance and transformation of enterprise architectures as well as methods facilitating other EAM tasks like establishing processes to foster communication between projects [11a].
Two topics closely related with EAM frameworks are viewpoints and architecture description languages. Often, frameworks provide a predefined set of viewpoints, that can be adapted to the specific enterprises’ needs [11a]. Architecture description languages can be used as a starting point for modeling the EA [11a].
One advantage of using frameworks is that they provide proven approaches to EAM. Also, most of the frameworks are publicly available and well documented. On the downside, training is usually necessary to successfully apply the framework in an enterprise, since the models offered are often complex and modeling techniques need to be learned. Additionally, the approaches are very abstract and generic, making it difficult to derive enterprise-specific adaptations.
There are a great many of different EAM frameworks [Sch04]. Some more renown ones are listed in Table 1.
|
EAM FRAMEWORK |
ABBREVIATION |
|
The France DGA Architecture Framework |
AGATE |
|
ArchiMate |
n.a. |
|
Architecture of Integrated Information Systems |
ARIS |
|
Building-blocks for Enterprise Architecture Management Solutions |
BEAMS |
|
The US Department of Defense Architecture Framework |
DoDAF |
|
Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework |
FEA |
|
Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology |
GERAM |
|
International Defence Enterprise Architecture Specification (IDEAS) Group |
IDEAS |
|
Integrated Architecture Framework |
IAF |
|
Information FrameWork |
IFW |
|
The UK Ministry of Defence Architecture Framework |
MODAF |
|
The NATO Architecture Framework |
NAF |
|
The Pragmatic EA Framework |
PEAF |
|
Quasar Enterprise |
n.a. |
|
The Open Group Architecture Framework |
TOGAF |
|
Zachman Framework |
n.a. |
Table 1: Non-exhaustive list of EAM frameworks.
Sources:
|
[11a] |
International Organization for Standardization. 2011. ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011 Systems and software engineering - Architecture description, Ingénierie des systèmes et des logiciels - Description de l’architecture. Standard. |
|
[11b] |
TOGAF® Version 9.1, an Open Group Standard. Standard. The Open Group, 2011. |
|
[Sch04] |
J. Schekkerman. How to survive in the jungle of enterprise architecture frameworks: Creating or choosing an enterprise architecture framework. Trafford Publishing, 2004. |