What does ArchiMate mean?
Clear-cut communication between different domains in an Enterprise has always been a problem. To overcome this problem in architecture, ArchiMate was introduced. But what is this architecture language exactly, and how does it help businesses and IT to communicate their architectures?
Definition
ArchiMate is claimed to be an open and independent enterprise architecture modeling language to support the description, analysis, and visualization of architecture.
With ArchiMate, you do not get in-depth domain-specific modelling solutions, but you get just enough to communicate the essentials of architecture across domain borders.
And for that, it works perfectly.
Usage
An example Introductory Viewpoint of ArchiMate 1.0
With it, you can create business models, application models, technology models, and cross-overs based on the ArchiMate meta-model and CRUD matrix (the rules and constraints for connecting entity classes).
For example, for business managers, you can create a process application dependency view, showing simply how, now or in the future, the business activities* in business processes are supported by applications. And how that blocks or enables the company’s strategy.
In this way, you make business managers more aware that continuity in business processes depends greatly on perfectly working software applications.
In ArchiMate, diagrams are defined on how to visualize views of the models for specific stakeholders. The modeling language holds a set of predefined symbols for the recognized entity classes in the meta-model.
It also has a predefined approach for extending the language in a structured way with your concepts or using stereotyping for existing concepts and symbols in the ArchiMate language.
“ArchiMate means lightweight cross-domain modeling and communication of architecture!”
Misunderstandings
Model anything out of the box. It is a common misunderstanding that you can model anything with ArchiMate. That is not the case. For that, you need to extend or alter it yourself. But when you have modeled anything in another language, say UML or BPMN, you can communicate the essence with ArchiMate into another domain.
Complete set of modelling rules and conventions. If you want to use it in practice, you need to define a large set of rules with naming conventions for entities, subclassing, and typing entities, so everyone does it similarly and the ArchiMate models and views stay inter-operable.
Common types are present. If you use ArchiMate as a single language to model architecture, you must extend the language a great deal. For instance, with types of processes (business processes vs. work processes or management processes, operational processes vs. supporting processes) and applications (common software applications, shared software applications vs. specific software applications, or business software applications vs. office automation software applications).
Definitions do not differ. Another misunderstanding is that ArchiMate 2.0 / 2.1 and 1.0 do not differ that much in definitions. Well, they do. So, agreeing upon and communicating the version used in an organization is essential.
The benefit of everything not present in ArchiMate is a lightweight modeling language to excel in cross-domain modeling.
Symbol
ArchiMate had its original logo before being handed over to The Open Group. That logo is used on this page.
Examples
Interesting ArchiMate examples are:
Further reading
Are you interested in reading more about this?
Our intention is not to provide a complete dictionary on enterprise architecture here but to provide only the most frequently used words in the field.
If you have a suggestion for us to improve the list or this definition, please get in touch with us via info@dragon1.com
Related Terms
*) Business Activity did not make it to the ArchiMate specification 1.0 or 2.0 at the Open Group ArchiMate® Specification Chapter 3, although it was there before. Maybe because to make ArchiMate as lean as possible.
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