Creating TOGAF Checklists with Southbeach MyCreativity

This Southbeach Notation model shows the phases of the The Open Group Architecture Foundation (TOGAF) Architecture Development Method (ADM). Reference: www.togaf.org


The method defines the inputs, steps, and outputs of each phase of the cycle:

A. Architecture Vision
B. Business Architecture
C. Information Systems Architectures
D. Technology Architecture
E. Opportunities and Solutions
F. Migration Planning
G. Implementation Governance
H. Architecture Change Management
Requirements Management

Some of these have been shown on the extended model below, with inputs shown as blue boxes, or activities that contribute to the phase, steps of the phase itself are shown as productions (arrows) out of the phase and outputs, or artifacts created by the phase, are shown using the created effect (star). Here we show the steps of phase A above that phase, with the inputs to the left, broken down hierarchically as defined in TOGAF, and the outputs to the right. We also show the inputs to phase B, business architecture similarly broken down.

Using the MyCreativity add on to the Southbeach Modeller, it is now possible to write rules that refer to the model and generate output. You will see how the rules below for the different effect types correspond to the appropriate output; anything that contributesto the phase you click on is listed as an input, anything that phase produces is listed as a step, and anything that is created by that phase, is listed as an output. Note also how in the case of contributesto, we have an additional rule called a 'triple' that matches secondary level contributions. (See the MyCreativity manual for more details.)

This is just one way you could model the parts of TOGAF and write rules in Southbeach to create checklists. This mapping of effects to meaning used to interpret the model in a specific way, this creativity meta-model, is important. Think about this - about how you want your rules and your model to interact - so you have a consistent way to generate creativity output from the model.

For example, the following script:

#Process
//Use extent extended
* "{selected}"
#Process.Inputs
contributesto(action, goal) " Inputs:"
contributesto(action, goal) " {source}"
contributesto(&a=action, &b=action) contributesto(&b,&c=goal) " |--{&a}"
#Process.Steps
produces(goal, action) " Steps:"
produces(goal, action) " {destination}"
#Process.Outputs
creates(goal,action) " Outputs:"
creates(goal, action) " {destination}"

Generates the following output when clicking on Phase A. Architecture Vision:
(This output appears in the MyCreativity window beneath the model when you have the plug-in - just right click in there and set extent to extended to make sure it generates all the secondary inputs).

A. Architecture Vision
  Inputs:
     Organizational Model for Enterprise Architecture
        |--* Governance and support strategy
        |--* Requests for change
        |--* Budget requirements
        |--* Re-use requirements
        |--* Constraints on architecture work
        |--* Roles and responsibilities for architecture team(s)
        |--* Maturity assessment, gaps, and resolution approach
        |--* Scope of organizations impacted
     Tailored Architecture Framework
        |--* Tailored architecture method
        |--* Tailored architecture content (deliverables and artifacts)
        |--* Architecture Principles, including business principles, when pre-existing
        |--* Configured and deployed tools
     Populated Architecture Repository
  Steps:
     * Define Scope
     * Develop Enterprise Architecture Plans and Statement of Architecture Work; Secure Approval
     * Identify the Business Transformation Risks and Mitigation Activities
     * Define the Target Architecture Value Propositions and KPIs
     * Develop Architecture Vision
     * Confirm and Elaborate Architecture Principles, including Business Principles
     * Assess Readiness for Business Transformation
     * Evaluate Business Capabilities
     * Confirm and Elaborate Business Goals, Business Drivers, and Constraints
     * Identify Stakeholders, Concerns, and Business Requirements
     * Establish the Architecture Project
  Outputs:
     # Additional content populating the Architecture Repository
     # Communications Plan
     Architecture Vision
     # Tailored Architecture Framework (for the engagement)
     # Capability Assessment
     # Architecture Principles
     # Refined statements of Business Principles, Business Goals, and Business Drivers
     Approved Statement of Architecture Work

and the following output when clicking on B. Business Architecture:

B. Business Architecture
   Inputs:
       # Approved Statement of Architecture Work
       # Architecture Principles, including business principles, when pre-existing
       # Enterprise Continuum
       # Architecture Repository
           |--* Re-usable building blocks
           |--* Publicly available reference models
           |--* Organization-specific reference models
           |--* Organization standards
           |--* Refined key high-level stakeholder requirements
           |--* Baseline Business Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Baseline Technology Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Baseline Data Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Baseline Application Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Target Business Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Target Technology Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Target Data Architecture, Version 0.1
           |--* Target Application Architecture, Version 0.1

You can create as many different rule sets as you like, use them interactively like this to help you think through your approach, or facilitate a project kick-off or review session, or audit an already running project. Southbeach modeller now has the ability to hide certain kinds of elements like actions (the blue boxes here), so you could build a very extensive model of a process that includes inputs, activities and outputs as here, whilst only showing the simple process steps on the screen and still having the creativity rules accessing the full richness of the model - but only showing it when you want to, when you click on the agents you are interested in.

Here is a screenshot of the application. The top left panel shows the models available in the explorer, below that is a list of creativity rule sets available for use with this model. The model is in the centre - with the action agents (blue boxes) hidden to keep the interface simple. On the right is the agent tab showing the description of the selected TOGAF phase, describing its objectives and approach. Beneath the model is the output of the creativity rules showing the inputs to that phase.



See southbeach-creativity.blogspot.com for more examples of how to use MyCreativity and some explanations of the different kinds of rules you can use to add creativity to Modeller. You can get the MyCreativity plug-in to Southbeach Modeller here.