The Zachman Framework is an enterprise architecture framework that provides a structured way to view and manage an organization’s architecture. Developed by John Zachman in the 1980s, it’s known for its grid-like matrix that categorizes and organizes various aspects of an enterprise’s architecture. The framework is widely used to understand, document, and communicate complex enterprise architectures. Here are the key aspects of the Zachman Framework:
Matrix Structure: The Zachman Framework uses a matrix structure with six columns and six rows to categorize and organize architectural artifacts. Each column represents a different perspective or viewpoint of the architecture, and each row represents a different level of abstraction.
Six Columns (Viewpoints/Perspectives):
- What: This column focuses on the essential business concepts and represents the business perspective. It answers questions related to what the organization does, its goals, processes, and data.
- How: This column represents the logical or functional perspective. It deals with how business processes are designed and the logical systems that support them.
- Where: This column addresses the location or distribution of resources, both physical and virtual. It includes considerations about the physical locations of data, facilities, and systems.
- Who: This column focuses on the people and roles involved in the enterprise. It includes the organization’s structure, roles, responsibilities, and stakeholders.
- When: This column deals with the timing and sequencing of processes and events. It includes considerations related to scheduling, events, and dependencies.
- Why: This column represents the motivation and rationale behind decisions and processes. It delves into the goals, strategies, and objectives of the organization.
Six Rows (Abstraction Levels):
- Scope: The highest level of abstraction, addressing enterprise-wide concerns and strategies.
- Business Model: Focusing on the business processes and activities.
- System Model: Representing the logical design of systems and processes.
- Technology Model: Detailing the physical implementation and technology choices.
- Detailed Representations: Providing detailed specifications and configurations.
- Working System: The lowest level, representing the actual operational systems.
Artifacts and Deliverables: The Zachman Framework is used to classify and organize various artifacts and deliverables produced during architecture development. For example, it might classify documents, diagrams, models, and specifications into specific cells in the matrix.
Communication and Documentation: It serves as a means of communication between different stakeholders by providing a common language and structure for discussing complex architectural concepts. It also aids in documenting the architecture comprehensively.
Enterprise-Wide Perspective: The framework encourages organizations to consider all aspects of their architecture, from business objectives to technology implementations, in a systematic and holistic manner.
Flexibility: The Zachman Framework can be adapted and customized to suit an organization’s specific needs and context, making it a versatile tool for different industries and domains.
While the Zachman Framework provides a structured approach to enterprise architecture, it doesn’t prescribe specific methodologies or processes for architecture development. Instead, it offers a framework for organizing architectural thinking and artifacts, allowing organizations to tailor their architecture development processes to their unique requirements.