The Concept of the Framework

The framework can in some ways be compared to techniques such as the flowchart (that was introduced by John von Neumann back in 1945. The flowchart is fine for many different issues and a flowchart is good to illustrate algorithms and flow of goods and processes.

Entity – relationship diagrams are used to show entities among various objects, processes and databases.

The purpose of the framework is to show how everything fits together and how they interacts. There are 30 boxes that are organized in six columns. The 30 cells or boxes are indeed intended to subject matter which means it is possible for those identify the various artifacts and deal with them in each cell.

Overview of the Framework

The framework has several minor items that can be categorized or organized as:

1. The Scope which is the first architectural sketch which is known as the bubble chart. In the ISA framework (Enterprise Architecture) it is equal to an executive summary.

2. Enterprise or business model this is the professional drawing at an architect. In the ISA context then this is equal to the business model to the organization.

3. System model which is equal to a list of specifications. In the ISA context this is equal to a system model designed. The model presents the information and the models that are linked to another.

4. Technology model which is equal to a contractor that has to redraw the architect’s plan. The model serves as a way to constrain the technology. The technology model is dealing with the programming language, I/O devices or other technology.

5. Components which in a architecture perspective deals with the sub-contractor work out a specific plans for the building a building. In an ISA context deals with the programmers or actors are aligned with a broader context so sub-optimization is handled in a proper way.

The Extended ISA Framework

Rules of the framework needs to be taken into consideration and dealt with to understand how the framework works:

1. The columns have no order. Order would imply priority and since the cells are equally important.

2. Each column has a basic model. It is important to understand that each model is representing a simplified version of the world. The focus is to ask what, how, where, who, when and why.

3. The basic model of each column has to be unique. Zachman is of the opinion that the cell is unique.

4. Each row represents a distinct and unique perspective.

5. Each cell is unique. This means that the cells should be checked twice while the framework is applied to the current situation.

6. The cell model are made of the perspective of the row.

7. They logic is repetitive.