Phase D: Technology Architecture (Introduction)

Objective  Approach     Inputs     Steps    Outputs

Objective

The objective of this phase is to develop a technology architecture that will form the basis of the following implementation work.

Approach

General

Detailed guidelines for this phase, including Inputs, Steps, and Outputs, are given under Target Technology Architecture - Detailed Description.

Architecture Continuum

As part of this Phase, the architecture team will need to consider what relevant technology architecture resources are available in the Architecture Continuum.

In particular:

• The TOGAF Technical Reference Model
• Generic technology models relevant to your organization's industry "vertical" sector. For example:
  • the TeleManagement Forum (TMF) has developed detailed technology models relevant to the Telecommunications Industry;
• Technology models relevant to common systems architectures. For example:
  • The Open Group has a Reference Model for Integrated Information Infrastructure that focuses on the application-level components and underlying services necessary to provide an integrated information infrastructure.

Inputs

Inputs to this phase are:

• Technical Principles (if existing)
• Request for Architecture Work
• Statement of Architecture Work
• Architecture Vision
• Relevant technical requirements from previous phases
• Gap analysis (from Data Architecture)
• Gap analysis (from Applications Architecture)
• Business Baseline - Version 2 (detailed) - if appropriate
• Data Baseline Description - if appropriate
• Applications Baseline Description - if appropriate
• Target Business Architecture - Version 2 (detailed)
• Re-usable building blocks (from organization's Enterprise Continuum, if available)
• Target Data Architecture
• Target Applications Architecture

Steps

1. Technology Baseline Description.
   1. Review Business Baseline, Data Baseline and Application Systems Baseline, to the degree necessary to inform decisions and subsequent work.
   2. Develop a baseline description of the existing Technology Architecture, to the extent necessary to support the target Technology Architecture. The scope and level of detail to be defined will depend on the extent to which existing Technology components are likely to be carried over into the target Technology  architecture, and on whether existing architectural descriptions exist, as described under Approach, above. Define for each major hardware or software platform type:
      • Name (short and long)
      • Physical location
      • Owner(s)
      • Other users
      • Plain language description of what the hardware / software platform is and what it is used for
      • Business functions supported
      • Organizational units supported
      • Networks accessed
      • Applications and data supported
      • System inter-dependencies (for example, fall-back configurations)
   3. To the extent possible, identify and document candidate technology architecture building blocks (potential re-usable assets).
   4. Draft the Technology Baseline Report: summarize key findings and conclusions, developing suitable graphics and schematics to illustrate baseline configuration(s).  If warranted, provide individual Technology Baseline Descriptions as Annexes.
   5. Route the Technology Baseline Report for review by relevant stakeholders, and incorporate feedback. Refine the Baseline Description only if necessary.
2. Target Technology Architecture. See detailed steps. Detailed activities for this step, including Inputs, Activities, and Outputs, are given under Target Technology Architecture - Detailed Description.

Outputs

The outputs of this phase are:

• Statement of Architecture Work (updated if necessary)
• Technology Baseline Description - if appropriate
• Validated Technology Principles, or new Technology Principles (if generated here)
• Technology Architecture Report, summarizing what was done and the key findings
• Target Technology Architecture Version 1
• Technology Architecture - gap report
• Viewpoints addressing key stakeholder concerns.
• Views corresponding to the selected viewpoints.

Copyright © The Open Group, 2002