Business Architecture/Key Definitions

Definitions

Term Definition Source
Business/IT Architecture Alignment The state in which automated systems and data architectures fully enable business strategy, business capabilities, and stakeholder value. BIZBOK v10
Capability A particular ability or capacity that a business may process or exchange to achieve a specific purpose or outcome. Example
Enterprise Architecture Enterprise architecture represents the holistic planning, analysis, design, and implementation for the development and execution of strategy by applying principles and practices to guide organizations through the integration and interoperation of all other architecture domains. Example
Model A visual and/or data representation of a real-world thing or category of a real-world things. Example
Product The word 'product' is commonly used to describe durable or tangible goods. However, more correctly, products can be goods or services, and are distinguished by tangibility: goods are tangible and services are intangible. From the customer's perspective, the product is the overall experience provided by the combination of goods and services to satisfy the customer's needs. Example
Value Chain Depicts major segments of the business that contribute to the life cycle of a product to deliver value to the customer. Example
Value Map A visual depiction of how an organization achieves value for a given stakeholder or stakeholders within the context of a given set of business activities. Example
Value Stream An end-to-end collection of activities that create a result for a customer, who may be the ultimate customer or an internal end-user of the value stream. Example

Business/IT Architecture Alignment

The state in which automated systems and data architectures fully enable business strategy, business capabilities, and stakeholder value.

Capability

A particular ability or capacity that a business may process or exchange to achieve a specific purpose or outcome.

Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise architecture represents the holistic planning, analysis, design, and implementation for the development and execution of strategy by applying principles and practices to guide organizations through the integration and interoperation of all other architecture domains.

Model

A visual and/or data representation of a real-world thing or category of a real-world things.

Product

The word 'product' is commonly used to describe durable or tangible goods. However, more correctly, products can be goods or services, and are distinguished by tangibility: goods are tangible and services are intangible. From the customer's perspective, the product is the overall experience provided by the combination of goods and services to satisfy the customer's needs.

Value Chain

Depicts major segments of the business that contribute to the life cycle of a product to deliver value to the customer.

Value Map

A visual depiction of how an organization achieves value for a given stakeholder or stakeholders within the context of a given set of business activities.

Value Stream

An end-to-end collection of activities that create a result for a customer, who may be the ultimate customer or an internal end-user of the value stream.