Enterprise architecture classification

Architecture classification provides a consistent and convenient method for logically grouping elements of an enterprise architecture to reflect the nature of the business being supported or the function of assets and services.

Classification helps practitioners and business representatives to quickly understand the nature of services and processes being conducted.

Classification allows analysis to be performed by domain, on a group of like elements rather than individual elements. It highlights the number of supporting information, application and technology assets used by the business and the capability they deliver. Potential gaps in services or technology capability as well as areas of possible duplication are identified. This may result in actions that can be carried forward into planning activities with the business.

Audience

A practitioner in the context of this guideline can include one or more of the following roles:

• Enterprise architects
• Digital and ICT strategic planners
• Agency and service strategic planners
• Business analysts.

Before conducting any classification activities, the practitioner should engage with the business planning unit, the enterprise architecture unit or other business stakeholders within the organisation to identify which elements relevant to the planning engagement are already classified. Practitioners need to understand which EA Classification models are used by the organisation and whether they are appropriate for the planning activities to be conducted.

Enterprise architecture classification models

Seven Enterprise architecture (EA) classification models are used as part of the Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture (QGEA) to classify business services, business processes, information management functions, information security classifications, information assets, applications and technologies into manageable but meaningful categories. Agencies may also have additional models or have extended the domains with the QGEA EA-Classification models to reflect specific agency needs.

We recommend classification of information, applications and technology assets or services to the QGEA EA Classification models as part of whole-of-government reporting. See the Queensland Government ICT Profiling standard for an outline of the minimum classification requirements.

Classification should only be conducted once the practitioner is satisfied all relevant elements have been gathered and documented in the relevant registers including:

• Business service register
• Business process register
• Information assets/services register
• Application assets/services register
• Technology assets/services register.

EA classification models used for planning purposes should be meaningful to the business, have clearly defined definitions for each domain and be applied consistently across business areas within the agency.

The categories below demonstrate how elements are classified to domains within each layer of the QGEA EA-Classification models. It is important to attempt to classify each element to the lowest level of domain possible within an EA-Classification Model.

Business architecture

Business services and processes

• Business services classification framework
• Business process classification framework
• Information management classification framework

Classification

• Classification to primary domain business services and processes
• Classification to a primary domain for information management related processes

Information architecture

Information assets and services

• Information classification framework
• Information security classification framework

Classification

• Classification to primary domain and up to 3 secondary domains if required
• Classification to a primary information security domain

Application architecture

Application assets and services

• Application classification framework

Classification

• Classification to primary domain and up to 3 secondary domains if required

Technology

Technology assets and services

• Technology classification framework

Classification

• Classification to primary domain and up to 3 secondary domains if required

See the resources section of this page for framework diagrams and additional resources for the classification of services, business processes, information assets, application and technologies .

Classification to multiple domains

While classification to multiple domains within a framework is possible, the classification to many domains may indicate the element has been defined at too high a level. It may be necessary to redefine the element into two or more discreet elements.

Classification to EA classification models results in three key analysis areas, these are Coverage, Gaps and Duplicates. When combined with cost information about elements such as the annual cost of operation or replacement cost, a spend per domain analysis can also be conducted.

The table below explains the key outcomes that result from classifying elements to their respective EA classification models.

A bar chart could be used to demonstrate the ‘Domains by total spend’. The X axis would represent the amount of spend and the Y axis would list the domain names from the relevant EA-Classification model to which the elements have been classified.

Where there is coverage across domains that do not directly support the line of business or business imperatives of the organisation, opportunities may exist to rationalise the cost of the elements or the number of elements in those domains.

Duplication

Where duplication exists, opportunities may exist to decrease activity in those domains. Particularly in domains that do not directly support the line of business or business imperatives of the organisation. Practitioners should investigate opportunities to outsource these services or processes or retire any redundant processes, information assets and related applications and technology.

Opportunities may also exist to rationalise the information, applications or technologies in a domain where duplication exists. Particularly if the cost of supporting those information, application and technology assets or services is high.

Gaps

Gaps may represent new opportunities both in terms of investment in new services and supporting processes as well as additional information, applications and technologies capabilities. Particularly in domains where mappings have revealed that objectives and strategies are not currently supported by services or applications.

Practitioners should consider:

• the level of capability or investment already in those domains
• any opportunities that can be carried forward to the planning engagement as potential objectives or strategies.

Diagrams can be useful when analysing classifications. These can include graphs or heat maps that depict the number of assets/services or the cost of assets or services in particular domains.

Present the results of the analysis of classifications to the planning sponsor as well as the business representatives as part of planning workshops conducted during the planning engagement.

It may be appropriate to suggest recommended management strategies that should be considered when developing the digital or ICT strategy or plan.

Alternatively, some recommendations may need to be carried forward into operational planning activities.

ICT resources profiling tool

• ICT Profiling templates

Business service classification

• Business services classification framework diagram
• Business services classification framework guideline

Information classification

• Information classification framework diagram
• Information security requirements and responsibilities

Application classification

• Application classification framework diagram

Technology classification

• Technology classification framework diagram