An Ontological Approach to Characterising Enterprise Architecture Frameworks

Abstract

Currently, several enterprise architecture jrameworks exist, and there is a need to be able to communicate about them. To this end we have proposed an Architecture Framework Ontology^ (AFO) providing characteristics to be assigned to the framework under consideration. AFO is then used to characterise and compare six existing frameworks, and results from this task are presented.

Propositions that Describe the Intended Meaning of Enterprise Architecture

“…Throughout the EAF comparison literature there is consensus about the lack of a universal adoption of a definition of EA. There are, though, underlying characteristics that enables the possibility of creating classification schemes (for example [37]) and ontologies (for example [39]) that suggests unifying elements implicit in the EA concept. One such unifying aspect is the regularity in reference to the IEEE 1471-2000's definition of architecture [54].…”

“…The work of Tang et al [49] illustrates the early association of EA with the development of enterprise software, an association that started as early as Zachman who titled his first published papers on the topic: -A Framework for Information Systems Architecture‖ [56] and -Extending and Formalizing the Framework for Information Systems Architecture‖ [47]. Ohren [39], in turn, proposes an architecture framework based ontology to enable framework comparisons and defines an architecture framework as a set of rules, guidelines and patterns for describing the architecture of systems. Abdallah and Galal-Edeen [1] specifically focuses their research on the comparisons of EAFs and defined EA as -A coherent whole of principles, methods, and models that are used in the design of an enterprise's organizational structure, business processes, information systems, and infrastructure".…”