Design Artefacts can be supplied in accordance with a agreed product specification for a wide range of
uses including Enterprise Architectures, Solution Architectures, Software Architectures, Design Models (Model Driven Design), Domain Models (Domain Driven Design), Event Models (Event Driven Design), Service Models (Service Oriented Architecture),
Element Definitions, Tool Repository Content and formal Specifications.
Design Artefacts are most effective when produced and applied in the same defined context. A shared language must be established between the author and the reader. We recommend use of the following:
PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments)
This is an approach to project management that is promoted by
the UK Government and used extensively both in the UK and elsewhere. At its essence is product-based planning, making it
particularly relevant here. Products are defined to control project deliverables ranging from design artefacts to testing completion reports.
ITIL (the IT Infrastructure Library)
A comprehensive reference for best UK practice in IT service provision.
However the nature of the IT function in organisations has changed markedly due to the rise of Cloud, DevOps and digitisation generally.
ISO/IEC 20000 is based upon ITIL but relates purely to Service Management, in IT and non-IT contexts.
In our opinion this is a natural development, as the designation of services as IT becomes less relevant in an increasingly digital landscape.
MSF (Microsoft® Solutions Framework)
From the commercial sector. Broader than simply a vehicle for the
deployment of Microsoft software products and services, although unsuprisingly
its intended audience is found within those traditional IT Projects most likely to employ COTS
(Commercial off the shelf) solutions.
UML (Universal Modelling Language)
Useful for producing diagrams of a standard format for use mainly by IS professionals.
UML is supported by a comprehensive open standard and widely accepted in the IS development community.
Unfortunatley, UML implicitly imposes principles taken from Object Orientation, limiting its efficacy as a design medium:
SSADM suffered from a similar shortcoming by implicitly imposing the Relational Model.
TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework)
A popular method and supporting set of structures for developing an enterprise architecture.
TOGAF is an open standard formed through the collaborative efforts of hundreds of consortium members.
TOGAF has matured as new versions of the framework have been issued, cementing its relevance to today's vast, complex organisations.
Archimate
One of many excellent standards from The Open Group, providing a visual modelling language that enables relationships between the various elements of an enterprise architecture to be easily conveyed.
It is a aimed at a niche market, of enterprise architects, so is often criticised as abstract and obscure. Nevertheless it is highly expressive in the kinds of ways that are useful for enterprise architecture
and is rigorous if properly applied.