TOGAF® Standard, 10th Edition · OGEA-101 Foundation · Quick revision
Architecture Governance
Official definition — learn word for word
“The practice of monitoring and directing architecture-related work. The goal is to deliver desired outcomes and adhere to relevant principles, standards, and roadmaps.”
Governance (§4.48): “The discipline of monitoring and guiding the management of a business (or IS/IT landscape) to deliver the business outcomes required.”
CG §3.1.1: “the practice and orientation by which Enterprise Architectures and other architectures are managed and controlled at an enterprise-wide level.”
Source: CC §4.14 · §4.48 · CG §3.1.1
Memory aid
Six characteristics: D-T-I-A-R-F.
D Discipline · T Transparency · I Independence
A Accountability · R Responsibility · F Fairness
Memory aid — not TOGAF wording.
In plain words
The rules, people and processes that make sure architecture decisions are actually followed — and that exceptions are handled openly.
Plain-English summary — not TOGAF wording.
Worked example
DUK's Architecture Board reviews each project against the architecture, records decisions in the Governance Repository, and grants a time-limited waiver when PayFlask can't meet a standard in time.
Illustrative example (Digital University Kerala) — not from the Standard.
01Mind map — related concepts
Architecture Governance
HIERARCHY
Corporate → Technology → IT → Architecture
6 CHARACTERISTICS
Discipline · Transparency · Independence · …
FRAMEWORK SPLIT
Process · Content · Context
KEY PROCESSES
Take-on · Compliance · Dispensation · …
ORGANIZATION
Architecture Board
NOT TO CONFUSE WITH
Management (governance monitors and guides it)
Source: CG §3.1.1, §3.1.2.2, §3.2.1
02The six characteristics of governance (CG §3.1.2.2)
| Characteristic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Discipline | All parties commit to procedures, processes, and authority structures |
| Transparency | All actions and their decision support are available for inspection by authorized parties |
| Independence | Processes and decision-making minimize or avoid potential conflicts of interest |
| Accountability | Identifiable groups (e.g. governance boards) are authorized and accountable for their actions |
| Responsibility | Each contracted party acts responsibly to the organization and its stakeholders |
| Fairness | Decisions and processes do not create unfair advantage for any one party |
Source: CG §3.1.2.2
03Key governance processes (CG §3.2.1.2)
Policy Management and Take-Onregister, validate, ratify, manage, publish
Complianceassessments against SLAs, OLAs, standards, regulation
Dispensation (Waiver)time-bound route to interim conformance
Monitoring and Reportingagainst SLAs and OLAs
Business Controlcompliance with business policies
Environment Managementthe repository-based environment behind governance
Source: CG §3.2.1.2
04Where it appears in the ADM
Preliminary · Step 2.3.2
Confirm Governance and Support Frameworks — a major output is a framework for Architecture Governance.
ADM §2.3.2
Phase G
Implementation Governance provides architectural oversight of the implementation.
CC §3.4
Phase H · Step 12.3.6
Manage Governance Process — Architecture Board meeting on changes and dispensations.
ADM §12.3.6
05Exam traps
“Architecture governance operates in isolation” → It sits in a hierarchy: corporate, technology, IT, architecture governance
““Efficiency” is one of the six characteristics” → Discipline, Transparency, Independence, Accountability, Responsibility, Fairness
“Governance processes depend on the content” → The framework is content-agnostic; processes are typically independent of the content
“Governance and management are the same” → Governance monitors and guides management
“The governance framework is first set up in Phase G” → Preliminary step 2.3.2 produces the governance framework
06Self-test — tap to reveal
Q1Define Architecture Governance.
The practice of monitoring and directing architecture-related work, to deliver desired outcomes and adhere to principles, standards, and roadmaps.
Q2Name the four levels of governance.
Corporate, Technology, IT, Architecture.
Q3Name the six characteristics.
Discipline, Transparency, Independence, Accountability, Responsibility, Fairness.
Q4Which characteristic avoids conflicts of interest?
Independence.
Q5Name the three parts of the framework split.
Process, content, context.
Q6What is another name for a dispensation?
A waiver.
Q7Which Preliminary step produces the governance framework?
2.3.2.
Q8Which Phase H step manages the governance process?
12.3.6.