Business Architecture Using TOGAF

This phase is the project kick-off phase, which includes the following activities:

1. Establish/Customize the Architecture Framework

• Select or customize an architecture framework (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman).

• Define the scope, boundaries, and governance of the architecture.

2. Define the Architecture Principles

• Set guiding principles that will shape decision-making throughout the EA process.

• Ensure principles align with the business goals, strategies, and IT standards.

3. Define the Enterprise Architecture Vision

• Clarify the purpose and objectives of the EA initiative, which is different the business architecture vision

• Align the vision with the overall business strategy and stakeholder expectations.

• Architecture Scope: What will be subject for the enterprise architecture activities:

• All enterprise

• Sector

• Department

• Cross-functional related achievement

4. Identify Key Stakeholders and Their Concerns

• Identify all relevant stakeholders, including business and IT leaders.

• Understand and document their concerns, needs, and expectations.

5. Define Architecture Governance

• Set up governance frameworks to ensure compliance, accountability, and oversight.

• Determine decision-making roles and responsibilities, approval processes, and governance structures.

• Includes commitments to: 

• Activities 

• Meetings

• Decision making

6. Create an Architecture Capability Maturity Assessment

• Assess the organization’s current capabilities and maturity level in managing enterprise architecture.

• Identify gaps and areas of improvement needed to support the EA initiative.

7. Establish Architecture Tools and Repository

• Define the tools and systems that will support architecture development, including repositories for storing artifacts and models.

• Set up systems for collaboration, communication, and documentation.

8. Develop the Architecture Team and Skills

• Identify the roles, responsibilities, and skills required for the architecture team.

• Organize training and skill development programs to ensure the team has the necessary capabilities.

9. Develop Tailored Architecture Content

• Customize the architecture content frameworks (such as deliverables, artifacts, and building blocks) to fit the organization’s context.

• Establish the level of detail and abstraction needed for the architecture documentation.

10. Obtain Commitment from Stakeholders

• Secure buy-in from key stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for the architecture initiative.

• Communicate the value proposition of EA to key decision-makers.

Determine the detailed business objectives, by the business team.

1. Business Vision and Goals:

• • The overarching vision and strategic goals of the organization, outlining the long-term direction and objectives.

  • Example: The Organization's vision is to move forward to digital transformation in the education sector

2. Business Strategy:

• • The high-level approach and plan that the organization adopts to achieve its goals. This includes strategies for growth, market positioning, and competitive advantage.

  • Example: Create an ecosystem (Web/Mobile) solution that meets the objectives

3. Value Streams:

• • The sequences of activities that create value for customers. Value streams map the path from initial customer need to product or service delivery which is a high-level business process that focuses on the detailed activities for the production

  • Will help to find:

• Missing Roles/Responsibilities

• Duplicate Roles/Responsibilities

• Incomplete processes

• New policies

4. Business Processes:

• • The end-to-end activities that the organization performs to achieve its objectives. Business processes are often documented using techniques such as process maps or flowcharts.

  • Business processes can be classified as following:

• Management processes: for the strategy

• Core processes: Related to the main value chain and process

• Support processes: Which support both, like HR and administration

• • Example: In Digital learning solution: Create content, Create Application, Attach content to application, Deploy application, Monitor application performance

5. Capabilities:

• • The unique abilities and competencies that allow the organization to perform its business processes and achieve its goals. Capabilities include both human and technological aspects.

  • Example: In software company: Software analysis, Software design, Software development

6. Organization Structure:

• • The organizational hierarchy, roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines within the company. This includes both formal and informal structures.

  • Organization structure is a result of the business architecture, and strategy, as all required processes will be classified, and have their related team structure.

  • Example: HR department, Software development department, Content development department, Marketing department, Commercial department

7. Business Model:

• • The description of how the organization creates, delivers, and captures value. It outlines the revenue streams, cost structure, and key business processes.

  • Assess Pricing strategy:

• Free

• Premium

• Freemium

• • Here, You will have the engagement of digital transformation visioning and approach, that makes you disrupt your operation, the following video help you understanding the difference between digital transformation and enterprise architecture.

  • Example: Free content, and premium content

8. Performance Metrics:

• • Key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that measure the effectiveness and efficiency of business processes and the overall performance of the organization.

9. Stakeholders:

• • Identification and analysis of internal and external stakeholders who have an interest in or are affected by the organization's activities.

  • Internal stakeholders that will be subject for gathering information, and will be part of the internal process, like:

• CEO

• CFO

• CTO

• Departments managers

• • External stakeholders:

• Vendors

• Customers

• Partners

10. Risk and Compliance:

• • Identification and management of risks associated with business operations, as well as adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements.

  • Example:

• Digital resistance

• Org chart reforming resistance

Example:  In order to achieve the previously mentioned vision, We should:

• Develop eco-system that consists of web/mobile solution

• Target the 5-12 age group, to build the new mindset of born digital

• Develop digital content related to the target mentioned age group, according to VARK matrix

The business model canvas is a strategic tool that models in high-level way the organization's business.

business model canvas contains the key 9 pillars for kicking of your business:

• Customers Segments: You are targeting, which you should have a persona for each to identify the values and characteristics for each to provide the proper solution

  • Example: Students, teachers, parents

    • Male/Female behavior

    • Different learning style

• Value proposition: What makes you different

  • • Price

    • Content

    • Availability zone

    • Fast response

    • After sales

    • Mobility

• Distribution Channel: How will you distribute your product

  • • Online access

    • Application downloads

• Relationship: How the business interacts with them

  • • Ads on social media

    • Direct access using data

    • On-ground marketing

• Revenue: Expected revenues 

• Key resources: Who will develop/produce/Operate/Support

• Key activities: This will help to identify required resources, and it includes also the supportive functions that should support the key value chain activities

• Partners: Who will help me to kick-off

• Cost: expected cost according to its type

Customer experience refers to the overall perception of the customer during the overall process their interaction across touchpoints.

In includes:

1. Product discovery

2. Purchasing/Service process

3. Quality of the service

The key components of CX:

• Usability & Accessibility – Ease of navigating digital platforms.

• Performance of the service

• Personalization – Tailored experiences based on customer preferences.

• Omnichannel Engagement – Seamless interaction across web, mobile, chat, and in-person.

• Speed & Efficiency – Fast response times and frictionless transactions.

• Customer Support & Service – Availability and quality of help provided

• Customer feedback process 

some service providers just see one thing: the product, price, but they lose a lot of customers, and they still asking: Why We lose customers?!

 Interaction with EA business architecture model:

1. Business architecture: touch the overall model, channels, solutions, roles required and the value proposition

2. Data architecture & application architecture: 

• Improve solution performance and provide assessments 

• Implement questionnaires for the customers

• Implement a recommendation model for the products

3. Technology architecture:

•  Implement VOIP technology

• Provide enterprise caching model