Mapping the enterprise architecture

Mapping involves identifying the relationships between elements either within or across a layer of an enterprise architecture. The diagram below demonstrates the concept of mapping with respect to the Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture (QGEA).

This image shows a diagram explaining how business, information, application and technology architectures relate to objectives and key performance indicators in the QGEA. The diagram is in the shape of a house with five levels of four rectangles with a triangle on top. The lowest first level is titled Technology architecture, this includes custom, off the shelf or technologies or technologies as a service. An upward arrow connects it to the second level. The second level is titled Application architecture, this includes custom, off the shelf or applications as a service. Two upward arrows on this level connect it to both the third level titled Information architecture, and the fourth level titled Business architecture. The third level is labelled Information architecture and includes only the word information. Two upward arrows on this level connect it to the fourth Business architecture level and the top fifth level titled Objectives, key performance indicators and strategies that forms the triangle top of the house shape. The fourth Business architecture level includes Business services and processes. An arrow connects the fourth level to the top level of Objectives, key performance indicators and strategies. This is the end of the diagram alt text.

Mapping across layers is generally conducted from one layer to the layer above in an enterprise architecture. For example, business objectives can map to strategies or services to business processes or across one or more layers of an enterprise architecture such as application to information and business processes.

The extent to which mapping is conducted will depend on the scope of the planning engagement and the information available. For a large agency, it may not be feasible to map all the relationships. It may be reasonable to focus on business strategic directions and core services of the agency and map only the relationships between the business strategic direction and services, services and information as well as services and applications.

Digital and ICT planning framework mappings

The table below outlines the recommended mapping combinations for conducting digital and ICT strategic planning. It demonstrates the high concentration of mapping in the strategy and business layers. This confirms the value of mapping to understanding the business of the planning organisation in terms of its strategic direction and services.

It’s important to note there is not always a logical or valid combination between all elements. Not all possible mappings between the information gathered will yield a result which is useful for analysis.

This image shows a table of business elements and how they map to each other. The titles of each element in the left column and along top row are the same 8 elements. Checkmarks are used to indicate which elements map to each other where they intersect on the table. The 8 elements listed to the left and along the top of the table are: Business objectives, Strategies, Key performance indicators, Business services, Business processes, Information, Application, and Technology. In the first row of the table, Business objectives does not map to any of the other 8 elements. In the second row, Strategies maps only to Business objectives. In the third row Key performance indicators maps to 2 elements, these are Business objectives and Strategies. In the fourth row, Business services maps to 2 elements, these are Business objectives and Strategies. In the fifth row Business processes maps to 3 elements, there are: Business objectives, Strategies and Business services. In the sixth row, Information maps to 4 elements, these are: Business objectives, Strategies, Business services and Business processes. In the seventh row, Application maps to 3 elements, these are Business services, Business processes and Information. In the eighth row, Technology maps to 2 elements, there are Application and Technology.

For smaller planning engagements (e.g. a single business area), conducting all recommended mappings helps ensure both the practitioner and the business has a thorough understanding of the business direction, services, processes, information, applications and technology capability of the organisation prior to commencing the planning engagement.

For larger planning engagements that cover the entire agency it may only be possible to map the relationships between the strategic elements and the relationships between information, applications and technologies.

Practitioners should review the information currently available in your organisation. As a planning or architecture team, you should agree on the mappings that represent the greatest value given the information available. Ask yourself, where there are gaps information, determine how gaps can be addressed and how the scope of mapping could be increased to provide additional value in the future?

Last updated:
7 December 2022

More news

18 Feb 2026

A Message from the Premier

A Message from the Premier: National Press Club Speech

  • Government and law
  • Services
  • Community
View all news