The Open Group publishes two TOGAF reference models — in TOGAF 10 as TOGAF Series Guides, not part of the Fundamental Content: the TRM (Technical Reference Model) — about the application platform, portability and interoperability — and the III-RM (Integrated Information Infrastructure Reference Model) — about the applications space and Boundaryless Information Flow. Both have exactly two components: a taxonomy and a graphic.
A reference model is a blueprint you start FROM rather than a blank page. TOGAF's two models both live at the Foundation end of the Enterprise Continuum.
- ▸📐 A reference model = a generic, reusable model that seeds a specific architecture
- ▸🧱 Both TOGAF models sit in the Reference Library of the Architecture Repository
- ▸📚 TOGAF 10: both are published as TOGAF Series Guides (the TRM guide is G175, Sept 2017) — they are NOT in the six Fundamental Content documents. Earlier TOGAF 9.1 included them in the main standard.
- ▸🔤 Both consist of exactly TWO components: a TAXONOMY (terminology + description) and a GRAPHIC (visual of the taxonomy)
- ▸⚠️ TOGAF does NOT mandate their use — they are provided as a starting point and can be replaced with an industry model
Explore the layers of the TRM, the parts of the III-RM, and the difference between the two.
The Technical Reference Model is part of TOGAF’s Foundation Architecture. It has two components: a taxonomy (terminology + description of platform services) and a graphic (a visual of that taxonomy). Its aim: application portability and interoperability via a consistent set of platform services.
Split into Business Applications (specific to a business need, e.g. payroll) and Infrastructure Applications (general-purpose, e.g. email, a browser). Sits on top of the platform.
The boundary between application software and the platform. A consistent API here gives applications portability across platforms.
The heart of the TRM — a single conceptual platform offering ~12 categories of service (see below). The TRM's goal is a consistent set of platform services so applications are portable and interoperable.
The boundary between the platform and the communications infrastructure.
The networks, hardware and physical links that carry information between systems — local and wide-area, including the basic long-haul connections.
The TRM describes a generic application platform and the services it provides. Its purpose is portability and interoperability.
- ▸🎯 Focus: the Application Platform space — the layer between application software and the communications infrastructure
- ▸🔌 Structure: Application Software → Application Platform Interface → Application Platform → Communications Infrastructure Interface → Communications Infrastructure
- ▸🧰 The Application Platform offers ~12 service categories (Data Management, Security, Network Services, User Interface, …)
- ▸🏛️ Service Qualities (availability, security, manageability, …) run down both sides — they apply to every service
- ▸💡 Goal: application PORTABILITY (move an app between platforms) and INTEROPERABILITY (apps work together)
The III-RM zooms into the applications space to model an integrated information infrastructure.
- ▸🎯 Focus: the Applications space — Business Applications and Infrastructure Applications
- ▸🧩 Infrastructure Applications include: Brokering apps, Information Provider apps, Information Consumer apps, Development tools, Management utilities
- ▸🌊 Driving vision: Boundaryless Information Flow — the right information to the right people at the right time, across boundaries
- ▸🔍 It is a SUBSET of the TRM's scope, but it EXPANDS the applications part — fundamentally an Application Architecture reference model
Both are TOGAF reference models with a taxonomy and a graphic. The difference is what they model:
- ▸🔧 TRM → the PLATFORM. Concern: portability & interoperability of applications.
- ▸📱 III-RM → the APPLICATIONS. Concern: an integrated information infrastructure for Boundaryless Information Flow.
- ▸🔗 Relationship: III-RM is derived from the TRM — a subset in scope that expands the business/infrastructure applications detail.
- ▸⚠️ Trap: "the III-RM is about the technology platform" — FALSE (that's the TRM).