SSC Architecture Modeling Conventions

Editor's Note: This page could be combined with the Content Metamodel page, and be applied to descriptions regarding the use/definition of each object/building block in the model.

Access (relationship)

• Should have an end arrow from the initiating object to the accessed object. It does not necessarily indicate the direction of the flow of data.

Aggregation (relationship)

• Indicates that an element groups a number of other concepts, where the other concepts can also be part of other groups. A looser relationship than with a composition.
• Aggregated items can also be part of more than one aggregation.

Composition (relationship)

• Indicates that an element groups a number of other concepts, where the other concepts are a fundamental part of the group. E.g.: A cat is composed of a head, body, legs, tail.
• Composed items can only be part of one composition.

Application Component

• Should, in the abstract (business/business process cooperation viewpoint) be linked as the representative of the whole application/application system. Used to denote where business roles, functions, processes interact with application systems.
• In the application layer, its use is similar to that of a function/application module.

Application Data

• Should, where possible, be linked to a business object.
• Should be linked to an application process.

Business Actor

• Represents an actual person, org structure section, committee or working group within or external to the organization. e.g.: Senior Advisor, Director Operations, Senior Vice President, ESSARB, Senior Management Board, Treasury Board, NRCan, John Smith, Dr. Henry Jones. Not: process modeler, designer, client, solution architect, manager
• Linking: Actors are usually linked to Roles.
• Naming: A noun. Should be named according to job title or departmental name within Active Directory and/or org chart if applicable.

Business Event

• Naming: Should be a verb in the perfect tense, e.g: "claim received", usually in the format of subject-verb or object-verb. e.g. "Traffic accident happens" or "Claims form submitted".

Business Function

A logical grouping of related business activity (processes, sub-functions, roles, business information, etc...) No flow or sequence is necessary.

• Linking: Must (directly or indirectly) support and link to an established Business Capability
• Linking: Should be associated with an enterprise requirement, strategic outcome, goal, and/or driver.
• Naming convention: Should NOT use verb-noun naming, in order to not be confused with business processes.

Business Object

• Naming: Business object names should be nouns, and may have qualifiers if necessary to distinguish. e.g.: Life Insurance Policy Invoice.

Business Process

Something that is done/performed, that has a flow or sequence.

• Linking: Should be related to a particular (superior) business function (e.g. an SSC Service)
• Naming: Should name processes with verb-noun notation. "Do something to something". i.e.: Place Order

Business Role

• Represents an abstract role, not a personal name or defined organizational position, committee, title, rank or hierarchy within the organization. e.g.: process modeler, designer, client, solution architect. Not: Senior Advisor, Director Operations, Senior Vice President, ESSARB, Senior Management Board, Treasury Board, NRCan, John Smith, Dr. Henry Jones.
• Roles are usually linked to actors and business functions and processes.
• Naming: Preferably a noun, referring to the primary activity that the role performs. Should be a compound noun to qualify it if it could have multiple meanings. e.g.: claim form completer.

Business Service

Something that is provided to an entity external to the business function.

• Must link directly (or indirectly through another business service, interface or product) to a client of the related function for the service.
• Naming: Should use verb ending. May use an "ing" ending. The verb should describe the primary activity of the service, e.g.: "Insurance claim processing".

SSC Services

SSC Services are usually business functions, and should not be represented as ArchiMate business services.

• Representation: Must be represented as a business function, with category of "client-facing service" or "supporting service"