In this tutorial, Bill expanded on a number of key concepts in the TOGAF 9 Standard, focusing in particular on the modeling of Enterprise Architectures using building blocks and patterns, two key concepts within the TOGAF Standard.
He explained the concept of the building block in the TOGAF Standard as a “packet of functionality” – covering not only items of software and hardware, but also, for example, people/roles.
Architecture Building Blocks (ABBs) are definitions of requirements and functionality, and Solution Building Blocks (SBBs) are parts of the actual proposed solution. These are defined by an iterative process in the TOGAF ADM.
A related concept is that of patterns – general, re-usable solutions.
A simplified way of thinking about these concepts is that building blocks are the “nouns” and patterns are the “verbs” in the way you construct your architectural “sentence”.
The tutorial was very well received, and will be repeated at future Member Conferences. Additional tutorials, focusing on specific aspects of the TOGAF 9 Standard, will also be included at future conferences.
