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Enterprise Architecture Fundamentals

TOGAF®

TOGAF® is an Enterprise Architecture methodology and framework to improve business efficiency.

► Get to what challenges and values TOGAF® brings with it and learn how to manage the TOGAF® Architecture Development Method (ADM).

What is TOGAF®?

TOGAF®—The Open Group Architectural Framework is one of the enterprise architecture frameworks to improve business efficiency. The framework helps businesses define their goals and align them with architecture objectives around enterprise software development.

TOGAF® has been used by enterprise architects (EAs) as a common language to plot IT development strategies for more than 25 years. It was developed in 1995 to help enterprises and enterprise architects align on cross-departmental projects in a structured manner to facilitate key business objectives.

In particular, according to the Open Group Architectural Forum, TOGAF®’s fundamental aim is to support critical business needs by:

  • Ensuring that everyone speaks the same language.
  • Avoiding lock-in to proprietary solutions by standardizing open methods for enterprise architecture.
  • Saving time and money, and utilizing resources more effectively.
  • Achieving demonstrable ROI.

And to ensure that the above is enacted in systematic and repeatable ways, a customizable process entitled the TOGAF® Architectural Development Method (ADM) can be followed in various stages to manage the requirements of any large-scale IT modernization endeavor.

In 2022, The Open Group updated the framework and released the TOGAF Standard, 10th Edition, which replaces the previous 9.2 Edition. The update makes the adoption easier for organizations to implement the best practices of TOGAF. The Open Group states that the 10th Edition provides improved efficiency and simpler navigation for implementing the framework, making it more accessible and user-friendly.

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The four architectural domains of TOGAF

TOGAF®’s ADM process is specifically designed to accelerate workflow across four domains of enterprise architecture:

  1. Business architecture
    Responsible for mapping the relationships between a business’s operational hierarchies, policies, capabilities, and initiatives.
  2. Applications architecture
    Responsible for defining relevant applications to handle company data and the ways in which to implement and deploy these applications within the overall infrastructure.
  3. Data architecture
    Responsible for defining the rules and standards to store and integrate data.
  4. Technical architecture
    Defines platforms, service, and all surrounding technology components to serve as a reference for development teams.

 

The TOGAF Architecture Development Model (ADM)

The TOGAF framework not only outlines the key components of an Enterprise Architecture through its four Architectural Domains, but it also provides a clear roadmap for how to create that architecture. This roadmap is known as the Architecture Development Method (ADM), and it is a nine-phase sequential process. The ADM guides organizations in developing their Enterprise Architecture, and it is depicted in Figure 1.

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) - Architecture Development Method
Figure 1: TOGAF® Architecture Development Method

Throughout the nine stages of the TOGAF® ADM process, these four architectural domains become iteratively developed to create a balanced architecture capable of securing organizational changes. An industry-agnostic process, this method is intended to limit guesswork and foster maturity in enterprise architecture programs—all of which while amassing enterprise-specific architectural repositories to support future projects.


What are the challenges of TOGAF® in modern IT environments?

TOGAF® is currently in version 10, and with its evolving library of definitions and symbology comes the unavoidable struggle to align to the framework in an agile manner. Much of this is due to TOGAF®’s comprehensive architectural compliance review process, a checklist involving hundreds of items from categories such as information and systems management; hardware and operating systems; software services and middleware; applications (business, infrastructure, and integration specifications); and information management.

Yet, while compliance is an indispensable element of architectural governance, religiously adhering to the framework’s standards is a difficult task for any enterprise architecture program. As such, for modern organizations wishing to efficiently uphold TOGAF®’s best practices, it’s all but necessary to gain the participation of stakeholders throughout an organization in order to efficiently assess and catalog IT projects.

Agile and TOGAF® are indeed capable of co-existing, but in order for it to happen, collaborative pathways for standardizing IT entities among teams must be established.

 

What is new in TOGAF® 10?

The 10th Edition of TOGAF features a new modular format that brings several benefits. The Fundamental Content branch includes all the basics of the framework, making it easier for businesses to start implementing and learning TOGAF. This part of the framework is the least likely to change significantly over time. The modular structure provides enterprise architects with better guidance and a simpler navigation process, allowing them to effectively use the framework. The knowledge base and topic-specific guidance are separated into formal parts of the framework, making frequent releases of additional material possible while preserving stability in the fundamental content.

Furthermore, the 10th Edition of TOGAF continues to enhance its ability to support the fundamental aspects of business strategy, making it more useful for vendors to deliver new features and services to specialized market segments while adhering to open standards. The framework is designed to adapt to the changing business needs and is a living body of knowledge, allowing organizations to establish agile ways of working that continually evolve. The 10th Edition of TOGAF demonstrates how the framework is evolving to deliver value in times of change.

TOGAF® certification

Who is the TOGAF® certification for?

TOGAF® certification is very useful for enterprise architects and other IT leaders. Even though they often present new features, the core framework and common methodology stay the same. With its global recognition, earning the TOGAF® certification will enable you to demonstrate an ability to use the TOGAF® framework to deploy new technology and successfully manage enterprise architecture. 

Besides validating your ability to work with TOGAF® related data, technology, enterprise applications, and business goals, it will also make an impact on the salary.

Here is the salary comparison for job titles in the US, that have the biggest salary increase with the TOGAF® certification:

 

Job Title Median Salary Median Salary with TOGAF® certification
Enterprise Architect $135,000 $145,000
Solutions Architect: $120,000 $136,000
IT Architect $118,000 $132,000
Software Architect $126,000 $131,000
EA Director $157,000 $163,000

How to get a TOGAF® certification?

One of the surest ways to understand the transformative benefits of the LeanIX EAM is to take time learning the fundamentals of TOGAF®. To do so, a TOGAF® 9.2 certification can be achieved upon passing two qualification exams from the Open Group, and training can be conducted either independently through self-directed courses or an accredited program.

The two available certifications from TOGAF® are:

  • TOGAF® 9.2 Foundation (which validates that an individual understands “TOGAF® terminology, structure, and basic concepts, and understands the core principles of Enterprise Architecture and the TOGAF® standard”).
  • TOGAF® 9.2 Certified (which validates that in addition to the TOGAF® 9.2 Foundation, the candidate is able to analyze and apply this knowledge).

For more information on becoming TOGAF® certified, visit the Open Group’s website here.

 

Summary

Today's agile approaches to IT management owe much of their success to the architectural standards set first by TOGAF®. However, the rush to digitalization in thriving modern businesses requires enterprise architects—both new and old-school—to recognize all best practices in order to truly integrate information, business, and technology networks.

Using reports and data collection methods in the LeanIX EAM to streamline the phases of the TOGAF® ADM is a way to capitalize on decades' worth of EA best practices all at once.

Whether building the (1) foundations of your architectural vision using comprehensive Fact Sheets, (2) assessing current-to-future business infrastructures with Application Landscape views, (3) making investment decisions on applications using detailed metrics and matrices, and (4) overseeing implementation with configurable dashboards and surveys, the LeanIX EAM is designed to satisfy every breed of an enterprise architect.

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Define the architectural vision, scope and identify relevant stakeholders.

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Describe the baseline architecture, develop a target architecture and analyze gaps.

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Identify projects to effectively deliver the target architecture and develop a detailed implementation and migration plan.

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Govern the implementation status of initiatives in regards to architecture conformity.

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Actively manage the change management process and trigger new projects.

Answers to frequently asked questions on TOGAF®

What does TOGAF® mean?

TOGAF® – The Open Group Architecture Framework - was developed in 1995 to help enterprises and enterprise architects align on cross-departmental projects in a structured manner to facilitate key business objectives.

In particular, according to the Open Group Architectural Forum, TOGAF®’s fundamental aim is to support critical business needs by:

  • Ensuring that everyone speaks the same language.
  • Avoiding lock-in to proprietary solutions by standardizing on open methods for an enterprise architecture.
  • Saving time and money, and utilizing resources more effectively.
  • Achieving demonstrable ROI.

What is a TOGAF® certification?

The TOGAF Standard is the established best practice to develop and use an enterprise architecture, efficiently describe an enterprise architecture, and develop an enterprise architecture team. TOGAF Certification is evidence that you are serious about your career as an enterprise architect. 

TOGAF certification shows that you know understand the enterprise architecture body of knowledge. Member companies of The Open Group's Architecture Forum work through a consensus process to ensure the TOGAF Standard represents stable, successful practices. Obtaining TOGAF Certification shows that you have taken the time to understand the industry standard practices and essential scaffolding of your profession.

TOGAF Certification is not about your skill or competence as an enterprise architect. It simply says you understand your stable best practice and have a framework to build upon.

How do I get TOGAF® certification?

One of the surest ways to understand the transformative benefits of the LeanIX EA Suite is to take time learning the fundamentals of TOGAF®.

To do so, a TOGAF® 9.2 certification can be achieved upon passing two qualification exams from the Open Group, and training can be conducted either independently through self-directed courses or an accredited program.

The two available certifications from TOGAF® are:

  • TOGAF® 9.2 Foundation (which validates that an individual understands “TOGAF® terminology, structure, and basic concepts, and understands the core principles of Enterprise Architecture and the TOGAF® standard”).
  • TOGAF® 9.2 Certified (which validates that in addition to the TOGAF® 9.2 Foundation, the candidate is able to analyze and apply this knowledge).

How does the Architecture Development Method (ADM) look like?

TOGAF®’s ADM process is specifically designed to accelerate workflow across four domains of enterprise architecture:

  • Business architecture, which is responsible for mapping the relationships between a business’s operational hierarchies, policies, capabilities, and initiatives.
  • Applications architecture, which is responsible for defining relevant applications to handle company data and the ways in which to implement and deploy these applications within the overall infrastructure.
  • Data architecture, which is responsible for defining the rules and standards to store and integrate data.
  • Technical architecture, which defines platforms, service, and all surrounding technology components to serve as a reference for development teams.