Having covered Phase A and Phase B of the ADM cycle, we now carry on our TOGAF Distilled video series by exploring Phase C: Information System Architectures.
TOGAF divides Phase C - the Information Systems Architectures - into two, covering the development of the Data and Application Architectures. The TOGAF documentation has a brief introductory chapter covering both domains, and then a separate chapter for each.
As with the other architecture development phases (B & D), the objectives are to develop the target information systems architecture for data and application and to identify candidate Architecture Roadmap components based upon the gaps between Baseline and Target Architectures.
It is important to remember that Phase C always involves a combination of Data and Application Architecture. This combination is critical to Phase C, but providing both aspects are covered, it doesn't matter in which order this occurs.
The steps for Data and Application are very similar – selecting reference models, viewpoints and tools; developing a baseline and then target architecture description, performing gap analysis and defining candidate roadmap components; and resolving any impacts across the architecture landscape. After conducting a formal stakeholder review the architecture is finalized, and the Architecture Definition Document created.
The key differences between Data and Application are in the subject matter, which is reflected in the use of different reference models, techniques, and architectural representations. For example, Data Architecture might use entity-relationship or class diagrams, while Application Architecture might use an Application Communication diagram or Software Engineering diagrams.
Want to jog your memory on the previous TOGAF Distilled videos this series? Sign up to our free YouTube Video Channel for free and enjoy them all again, and to browse our variety of video series. Sign up here.