Courtesy: http://www.requirementsnetwork.com

Originally published in The Rational Edge this article contrasts the disciplines of enterprise architecture, solution architecture, and business architecture; compares these disciplines to the IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP) and suggests ways to combine them; and advocates applying The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) in combination with RUP to advance the implementation of enterprise architecture within organizations.

When provided with a problem statement or pointed to a specific user need, a project team equipped with the IBM Rational Unified Process® (RUP®) approaches a solution by creating a Business Case, a Vision statement, and a Software Requirements Specification among other artifacts. These work products and the activities that produce them are well understood within both the technical and business communities. However, the ways in which we conceptualize, prioritize, and select which business problems and user needs to implement in software remains a highly variable process throughout our industry.

This article explores the maturing and increasingly important role of enterprise architecture (EA) frameworks for today’s software development organizations. I begin by contrasting the discipline of enterprise architecture with the solution architecture and business architecture disciplines, while relating them to RUP. Then I explain how The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) advantageously expands the boundaries for enterprise architecture set by RUP to include enterprise business and IT planning, implementation governance, and other activities. Finally, I propose ways to apply TOGAF in combination with a few other EA frameworks.

Download