Phase A – Architecture Vision: A Guide to the First Step of the TOGAF ADM

Following the foundational work of the Preliminary Phase, the ADM officially begins with Phase A – Architecture Vision. This is a pivotal phase where the vision and scope for the entire architecture project are defined, and stakeholder consensus is established.

Phase A plays a crucial role by translating a vague business need or driver into a tangible and executable architecture vision.

Key Inputs of Phase A

To begin the work in Phase A, several key inputs are required, most of which are outputs from the Preliminary Phase:

• Request for Architecture Work: The most critical input, as it is the formal document authorizing the start of the architecture project.
• Mission Statements and Business Strategy: The high-level guiding documents of the organization.
• Architecture Principles: The principles that were defined and approved during the Preliminary Phase.
• Tailored TOGAF Framework: The version of the TOGAF framework customized to fit the organization.

Core Activities and Steps of Phase A

The activities in Phase A are highly strategic and require close interaction with stakeholders.

1. Establish the Project and Define the Context: The objectives and detailed scope of the architecture project are defined, including time and resource constraints.
2. Identify and Manage Stakeholders: This is an essential step. It involves identifying all individuals who will be impacted by the project, assessing their level of interest and influence. Managing stakeholder expectations and securing consensus is key to success.
3. Develop Business Scenarios: This is one of TOGAF’s most important techniques. By using business scenarios, architects can gain a clear understanding of the business drivers, needs, and challenges from an end-user perspective.
4. Perform High-Level Gap Analysis: A preliminary gap analysis is conducted to compare the high-level current state (AS-IS) with the target state (TO-BE). This helps identify the major issues to be addressed.
5. Develop the Architecture Vision Statement: This statement is the core output of Phase A. It describes the high-level architecture vision, including business goals, expected benefits, and key performance indicators for success.
6. Create the Statement of Architecture Work: This is a detailed document, similar to a project plan. It defines the project’s scope, deliverables, resources, and the expected outcomes of all subsequent ADM phases.

Key Outputs of Phase A

The successful completion of Phase A results in several important outputs that provide a solid foundation for the subsequent design phases.

• Architecture Vision Statement: The most important document, which describes the high-level architecture vision and business goals. It serves as the project’s charter, widely shared to ensure consensus.
• Statement of Architecture Work: A detailed document that defines the project’s scope, approach, and deliverables.
• Business Capability Requirements: A list of high-level requirements identified from the business scenarios.
• High-Level Gap Analysis Results: The outcome of the conceptual comparison between the current and target states.

Conclusion

Phase A: Architecture Vision is the stage where a strategic idea is transformed into a tangible action plan. By establishing a clear vision and securing stakeholder buy-in from the outset, risks are minimized and the architecture effort is ensured to deliver real business value.

In the next article, we will move on to Phase B: Business Architecture, where this vision will be formalized into a detailed model of the organization’s processes, functions, and structure.