Introduction: Enterprise (SoS) Architecture Viewpoint Definition

This Architecture Viewpoint Definition (AVPD) describes the design of the Enterprise (SoS) Architecture Description Framework. The Architecture Viewpoint Definition (AVPD) has been created using the COMPASS Architectural Framework Framework (CAFF) from the COMPASS Project.

The overall objective is to create an Enterprise (SoS) Architecture Description Framework that is:

Reusable
Built on a consistent set of concepts and principles
Ensures that all aspects of the enterprise are considered
Provides an inclusive structure for the architecture of the enterprise.
Meets all requirements of ISO 42010:2022

The term Enterprise is defined as:

ISO 15704:2019: Human undertaking or venture that has explicit and clearly defined mission, goals, and objectives to offer products or services, or to achieve a desired project outcome or business outcome.

ISO 15704:2000: Enterprise: one or more organizations sharing a definite mission, goals, and objectives to offer an output such as a product or service

"a project or undertaking, especially a bold or complex one." (dictionary)

or

"a business or company." (dictionary)

The enterprise is realized through one or more interacting organizations. Each organization is itself a constituent system and has a separate independence and contribution to the overall system of systems. Michael Porter, in Competitive Advantage, refers to this set of interacting organizations as a 'value system'

See also: SEBoK: Enterprise Systems Engineering

See also: ISO 15288:2015 Appendix G, Application of system life cycle processes to a system of systems.

The Enterprise (SoS) System Description and the Enterprise (SoS) Architecture Description Framework have been designed with ISO 15704:2019 requirements.

The system-of-Interest is the Enterprise as a System of Systems (SoS)

The remainder of this System Description (SDSF) focuses on the enterprise as defined above.

Why consider an Architecture Description Framework for the Enterprise as a System of Systems (SoS)?

The Architecture Description Framework provides a structured approach to the creation of Enterprise (SoS) Architecture Descriptions. This Enterprise (SoS) Architecture Description Framework can be used to create Architecture Descriptions that:

describe various states of an enterprise (e.g. current or target state).
establish reference architecture descriptions for various types of enterprises.
provide the top level design of an enterprise that forms the basis for further architecture descriptions (e.g. technical architecture descriptions).:
allow a multi-disciplined team to collaborate to create an Enterprise as a System of Systems (SoS) Architecture Description.
provide a consistent mechanism for people who need to know how the enterprise works

The Enterprise as a System of Systems (SoS) Architecture Description provides the unifying context for the development of other specialist architecture descriptions within each of the organizations. These are:

one or more technology Architecture Description Frameworks for specific technology systems depending upon the type of technology used.
specific Reference Architecture Descriptions for a class of Enterprise (SoS)

This System Description (SDSF) uses the Structuring Formalism for this set of Architecture Description Frameworks. See Structuring Formalism