TOGAF® Standard, 10th Edition · OGEA-101 Foundation · Quick revision
Architecture Landscape
Official definition — learn word for word
“The architectural representation of assets in use, or planned, by the enterprise at particular points in time.”
Levels (§4.16) provide a framework for dividing the Architecture Landscape into levels of granularity; architecture levels are distinct from architecture partitions.
Source: CC §4.15 · CC §4.16 · AC §7.1
Memory aid
Think of zooming a map: Sky → City district → Street.
Strategic = the whole enterprise from the sky
Segment = one district (area, program, portfolio)
Capability = one street (a unit of capability)
Memory aid — not TOGAF wording.
In plain words
The set of architecture descriptions of what the enterprise has now and plans next, at different zoom levels.
Plain-English summary — not TOGAF wording.
Worked example
DUK Strategic (the whole university, five years), Segment (Student Services), Capability (Online Fee Payment).
Illustrative example (Digital University Kerala) — not from the Standard.
01Mind map — related concepts
Architecture Landscape
3 LEVELS (GRANULARITY)
Strategic · Segment · Capability
LIVES IN
Architecture Repository (1 of its 8 components)
ORGANISED BY
Breadth (primary) · Depth · Time · Recency
DIVIDED BY ABSTRACTION
Architecture Continuum generic ⇄ specific
BUILT BY
Many ADM iterations; Phase F starts next level
NOT TO CONFUSE WITH
Solutions Landscape (SBBs) Domains (B · D · A · T)
Source: AC §7.1 · APPLY §2.5.1, §3.2, §3.4
02The three levels of granularity — most-tested table
| Aspect | Strategic Architecture | Segment Architecture | Capability Architecture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope (breadth) | Entire enterprise — long-term summary view | Areas within the enterprise | A particular unit of capability |
| Organizing framework for | Operational and change activity | Operational and change activity | Change activity only |
| Used for | Direction setting at an executive level | Direction setting + roadmaps at program or portfolio level | Roadmaps realizing capability increments; current capability, target capability, capability increments |
| Detail · validity | Least detail · valid longest | Medium | Most detail · shortest horizon |
“Broader and less detailed architectures will generally be valid for longer periods of time” (APPLY §3.4).
Source: AC §7.2 · APPLY §3.2, §3.4 · CC §4.34, §4.67, §4.77
03How the levels get built (APPLY §2.5.1)
Strategic ADM cycleA → … → F
Phase F initiates new, more detailed architecture projects
Segment ADM cycle(s)can run in parallel
Phase F again initiates the next level down
Capability ADM cycle(s)→ implementation
Higher-level architecture guides and constrains more detailed architecture; the complete landscape is developed by multiple ADM iterations.
Source: APPLY §2.5.1 (Fig 2-3), §3.3
04Where it appears in the ADM
Iteration between ADM cycles
Phase F (Migration Planning) initiates new, more detailed architecture development projects.
APPLY §2.5.1
Phases B, C, D · Step 6
Resolve Impacts Across the Architecture Landscape.
ADM §4.3.6, §6.3.6, §7.3.6, §8.3.6
05Exam traps
“The Landscape is the Architecture Repository” → It is one of the Repository's 8 components
“The levels are Business, Data, Application, Technology” → Those are domains; levels are Strategic, Segment, Capability
“The Architecture Landscape holds the SBBs” → The Solutions Landscape represents the SBBs that support it
“Depth is the primary organising characteristic” → Breadth is primary
“Phase A starts the lower-level cycle” → Between cycles, Phase F initiates the more detailed architecture projects
“Capability Architecture covers operational activity” → It is a framework for change activity; Strategic and Segment cover operational and change
“Levels and the Continuum are the same thing” → Levels = granularity; Continuum = abstraction
06Self-test — tap to reveal
Q1Define the Architecture Landscape.
The architectural representation of assets in use, or planned, by the enterprise at particular points in time.
Q2Name the 3 levels, top-down.
Strategic → Segment → Capability.
Q3Which level supports executive direction setting?
Strategic.
Q4Which level works at program / portfolio level?
Segment.
Q5Which level shows current, target and increments?
Capability.
Q6Primary organising characteristic?
Breadth.
Q7What divides each level by abstraction?
The Architecture Continuum.
Q8Which phase kicks off the next-level ADM cycle?
Phase F.