Monday 27 November 2017

Elements of the Archimate 3.0 Application Layer

This post is a basic aide-memoire for me to remember the characteristics of the Archimate Application Layer model elements. For a detailed description refer to the main Archimate 3.0 documentation.

The model elements are divided into 3 categories:

  • Active Structure
  • Passive Structure
  • Behaviour


Active Structure

Element

Description

Notes

Notation

Component

Encapsulation of application functionality aligned to implementation structure

Modular and replaceable

Encapsulates behaviour and data

Exposes services and makes them available through interfaces

A self-contained unit

Independently deployable, re-usable, and replaceable

Performs one or more application functions

Functionality is only accessible through application interfaces

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Collaboration

An aggregate of two or more application components that work together to perform collective application behaviour

Specifies which components cooperate to perform some task

A logical or temporary collaboration of application components

Does not exist as a separate entity

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Interface

A point of access where application services are made available

How the functionality of a component can be accessed

Exposes application services

The same interface may expose multiple services

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Behaviour

Element

Description

Notes

Notation

Function

Automated behaviour performed by a component

Describes internal behaviour of a component

Functions are exposed externally through one or more services

May access data objects

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Interaction

A unit of collective application behaviour performed by two or more application components

Collective behaviour performed by components that participate in a collaboration

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Process

A sequence of application behaviours that achieves a specific outcome

The internal behaviour performed by a component to realize a set of services

May realize application services

May access data objects

A component may perform the process

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Event

Denotes a state change

Does not have a duration

May be internal or external

May have a time attribute

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Service

An explicitly defined exposed application behaviour

Functionality is exposed through interfaces

Realised by one or more functions

Provides a useful unit of behaviour

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Passive Structure

Element

Description

Notes

Notation

Data

Data structured for automated processing

A self-contained piece of information

Clear business meaning

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