Today the Open Group released the latest version of their Enterprise Architecture (EA) Framework “TOGAF 9” (The Open Group Architecture Framework version 9).
It’s been more than a few years at version 8 so an update was due; according to the Open Group the new version has a number of enhancements, including:
- Modular structure
- Promotes greater usability & encourages incremental adoption
- Supports evolutionary release management
- Content framework (donated by Capgemini)
- Extended guidance on using TOGAF
- Explicit consideration of architectural styles (includes integration SOA with TOGAF)
- SOA and Security
- Further detail added to the Architecture Development Method (ADM)
Allen Brown, President and CEO of The Open Group, said this about the launch:
Today sees the launch of the much anticipated TOGAF 9. From the beginning TOGAF 9 was always intended as an evolution from TOGAF 8 and this is exactly what has been delivered.
A number of enhancements within TOGAF 9 support greater usability of the overall specification. The modular structure of the specification makes it easier for an architect to consider a specific aspect of the architecture capability. In all areas, the specification seeks to add detail and clarity above and beyond previous TOGAF versions.
I wish TOGAF 9 the continued success of its predecessors and extend my thanks and appreciation to all Architecture Forum members who have involved themselves in its development at any level. It is an astonishing achievement and I am delighted to have been able to play a small part.
There have already been a number of reviews and articles about it being released, some of which are well worth having a look at, including Mike Walker’s blog article “TOGAF 9 Release and Impressions” and online IT industry magazine eBizQ’s “Open Group Releases TOGAF Version 9; Ready for SOA“.
As a whole TOGAF 9 is still rather process focused, and I doubt we’ll see a resolution to this in the short term, despite Capgemini ‘gifting’ the new Content Framework to TOGAF. As such I expect that this issue will continue to drive people to adopt elements from other EA Frameworks which are more artifact focused, however given the extensive material on how to integrate TOGAF 9 with other frameworks I don’t see this as a major issue, unless you come from an organisation where there is, or has recently been, an EA “religious war” based around a single EA ideology. If that is the case you may need to take a more pragmatic approach to deliver your EA strategy.
If you are an Architect, or work with Architects, I recommend being familiar with TOGAF and becoming certified (if this is a viable cost option). Principally because I see TOGAFs main value in bringing a common and standardised language, set of semantics and terminology to EA; acting as a “lingua franca” for the architectural community, as well as acting as a standardised approach to EA and as a robust EA Framework in it’s own right.
Sun are a partner of the Open Group and a number of us, including myself, take part in the Open Group’s ‘Architecture Forum‘, the community which defines the TOGAF standard itself.
Downloads of TOGAF 9 and other related documents, such as an introduction and a migration overview, can be found on the Open Group’s TOGAF website: http://www.opengroup.org/togaf/
he Open Group release TOGAF 9
Today the Open Group released the latest version of their Enterprise Architecture (EA) Framework “TOGAF 9” (The Open Group Architecture Framework version 9).
It’s been more than a few years at version 8 so an update was due; according to the Open Group the new version has a number of enhancements, including:
- Modular structure
- Promotes greater usability & encourages incremental adoption
- Supports evolutionary release management
- Content framework (donated by Capgemini)
- Extended guidance on using TOGAF
- Explicit consideration of architectural styles (includes integration SOA with TOGAF)
- SOA and Security
- Further detail added to the Architecture Development Method (ADM)
Allen Brown, President and CEO of The Open Group, said this about the launch:
Today sees the launch of the much anticipated TOGAF 9. From the beginning TOGAF 9 was always intended as an evolution from TOGAF 8 and this is exactly what has been delivered.
A number of enhancements within TOGAF 9 support greater usability of the overall specification. The modular structure of the specification makes it easier for an architect to consider a specific aspect of the architecture capability. In all areas, the specification seeks to add detail and clarity above and beyond previous TOGAF versions.
I wish TOGAF 9 the continued success of its predecessors and extend my thanks and appreciation to all Architecture Forum members who have involved themselves in its development at any level. It is an astonishing achievement and I am delighted to have been able to play a small part.
There have already been a number of reviews and articles about it being released, some of which are well worth having a look at, including Mike Walker’s blog article “TOGAF 9 Release and Impressions” and online IT industry magazine eBizQ’s “Open Group Releases TOGAF Version 9; Ready for SOA“.
As a whole TOGAF 9 is still rather process focused, and I doubt we’ll see a resolution to this in the short term, despite Capgemini ‘gifting’ the new Content Framework to TOGAF. As such I expect that this issue will continue to drive people to adopt elements from other EA Frameworks which are more artifact focused, however given the extensive material on how to integrate TOGAF 9 with other frameworks I don’t see this as a major issue, unless you come from an organisation where there is, or has recently been, an EA “religious war” based around a single EA ideology. If that is the case you may need to take a more pragmatic approach to deliver your EA strategy.
If you are an Architect, or work with Architects, I recommend being familiar with TOGAF and becoming certified (if this is a viable cost option). Principally because I see TOGAFs main value in bringing a common and standardised language, set of semantics and terminology to EA; acting as a “lingua franca” for the architectural community, as well as acting as a standardised approach to EA and as a robust EA Framework in it’s own right.
Sun are a partner of the Open Group and a number of us, including myself, take part in the Open Group’s ‘Architecture Forum‘, the community which defines the TOGAF standard itself.
Downloads of TOGAF 9 and other related documents, such as an introduction and a migration overview, can be found on the Open Group’s TOGAF website: http://www.opengroup.org/togaf/
Links for this article: