ADM Input and Output Descriptions

Introduction     Inputs/Outputs per Phase     Inputs/Outputs per Step of Phase C    Input List     Output List    Input Descriptions    Output Descriptions

Introduction

This section provides structured lists of all the input and output items referenced in the Architecture Development Method, together with descriptions of those inputs and outputs.

The section is structured as follows.

Immediately below are two tables summarizing the major inputs and outputs in the ADM, the first summarizing the whole of the ADM per phase, and the second summarizing Phase C, Target Architecture Development, per step.  

Following the tables are descriptions that indicate the type of content recommended for each input and output item.

Note that not all the content described here need be contained in a particular input or output.  Rather, it is recommended that external references be used where possible: for example, the strategic plans should not be copied into the Request for Architecture Work, but rather the title of the strategic plans should be referenced.

Also, it is not suggested that these descriptions should be followed to the letter. However, each element should be considered carefully: ignoring any input or output item may cause problems downstream.

Finally, note that versioning is used to indicate that input or output items may undergo change as the ADM is executed.  As an input or output item is updated, a new version may be produced. The initial version is named Version 1, and subsequent versions are named Version 2, Version 3, etc.

A graphical representation of the information given here is presented in Part IV, ADM Model, which gives a detailed model of the ADM, showing the ADM phase structure and their relationships to information obects and other entities in the architecture environment.

Table 1: Major Inputs/Outputs per Phase

Table 2: Major Inputs/Outputs per Step in Phase C

Major Input List

Major Output List

Major Input Descriptions

Request for Architecture Work

Organization sponsors

Organization's mission statement

Business goals (and changes)

Strategic plans of the business

Time limits

Changes in the business environment

Organizational constraints

Budget information, financial constraints

External constraints, business constraints

Current business system description

Current architecture/IT system description

Description of developing organization

Description of resources developing organization has available

Re-usable Architecture Building Blocks

Technical architecture documentation and models from the business' Architecture Continuum.

Product Information

Functional descriptions of products that are candidates for the implementation

Architectural descriptions of elements that are candidates for the implementation

New Technology Reports

New developments in potentially relevant technology

Major Output Descriptions

Statement of Architecture Work

Statement of work title

Project request and background

Project description and scope

Architecture vision

Managerial approach

Change of scope procedures

Responsibilities and deliverables

Acceptance criteria and procedures

Project plan and schedule

Support of the enterprise continuum

Signature approvals

Business Architecture

Baseline of current business architecture

Baseline technical description of current IT system in native terms

Baseline of current architecture in TOGAF terms

Baseline technical description of current IT system in TOGAF terms

Business requirements and key system and architecture drivers

Business return given required changes

Candidate architecture building blocks list

Candidate architecture building blocks models

Candidate solution building blocks list

Candidate solution building blocks models

Relevant business process descriptions

Assumptions (e.g. business, financial, organizational, or required technical functionality)

Technical Architecture

Constraints

Technical constraints

View imposed constraints

Target architecture principles

Principles embodied in the current system

New governing principles

Technical architecture model

Architecture building block models of views (minimally model of functions and a model of services)

Architecture building block models of service portfolios (organizational specific framework)

Technical architecture specification

Per architecture building block:

Details of the technical functionality

Fully defined list of all the standards

Description of building block at the levels necessary to support implementation, enterprise wide strategic decision making, and further iterations of the architectural definition process

Rationale for decision taken that relate to the building block, including rationales for decisions not to do something

Specification identifying the inter-working with other building blocks and how they do so

Guidelines for procuring

Standards summary list

Requirements traceability

Acceptance criteria

Criteria for choosing specifications

Criteria for selection of portfolios of specifications

Criteria to test merits of architecture (key question list)

Report on cost/benefit analyses

Report on how the proposed architecture meets the business goals and objectives

Criteria response answers to key question list to test merits of architecture

Gap report

Report on gap analysis

Report of gap analysis matrix

Mapping of the architectures in the architecture continuum

Change requests for extensions or amendments to related architectures

Impact Analysis

Project list

Name, description and objectives of each impacted project

Prioritized list of impacted projects to implement the proposed architecture

Time oriented migration plan

Benefits of migration, determined [including mapping to business requirements]

Estimated costs of migration options

Implementation recommendations

Criteria measures of effectiveness of projects

Risks and issues

Solutions building blocks - description and model

Architecture Contract

Signed statement of intent on following the architecture from developing organization

Introduction

Background

The nature of the agreement

Scope

Strategic requirements

Conformance requirements

Architecture adopters

Time window

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