Understanding the Target Before Build
For Business Architecture, the target operating model should be understood. Phase 1 is where the core capabilities, value streams, and organizational processes that justify the IT investment are defined. Skipping this phase risks building a technically perfect system that solves the wrong problem.
Core Objectives of Phase 1
Align Tech to the Mission:
Visually demonstrate how the proposed technology solution directly supports the operational goals and bottom line
Map the Organization:
Identify the key human actors, distinct departments, and external groups that will interact with the future-state environment.
Define the Processes:
Document the specific business workflows (e.g., secure system design, quality assurance reviews) that the eventual application and infrastructure layers are responsible for executing and protecting.
Establish Traceability:
Create the anchor point for all downstream technical design. Every server, network link, and software license introduced later in the project should trace directly back to a specific business requirement defined here.
Primary Stakeholders
The artifacts generated in this phase are tailored for non-technical leadership: Project Sponsors, C-Suite Executives, Business Unit Leads, and Financial Controllers. The language used in these diagrams should remain business-focused, entirely free of vendor-specific IT jargon, IP addresses, or hardware specifications.
