TOGAF® Standard, 10th Edition · OGEA-101 Foundation · Quick revision
Metamodel
Official definition — learn word for word
“A model that describes the entities used in building an Architecture Description, their characteristics, and the key relationships between those entities.”
TOGAF encourages an Enterprise Metamodel, which “defines the types of entity to appear in the models that describe the enterprise, together with the relationships between these entities” (CC §3.12.3).
Source: CC §4.54 · CC §3.12.3
Memory aid
Metamodel = the TYPES (Role). Model = the INSTANCES (Registrar, Fee Clerk).
Memory aid — not TOGAF wording.
In plain words
A metamodel is a model of your models: it lists the kinds of things you will draw (roles, processes, applications, data…) and how they may be connected.
Plain-English summary — not TOGAF wording.
Worked example
DUK's metamodel says there is an entity type “Role” and that a Role performs a Process. The Business Architecture model then contains actual instances: Registrar, Fee Clerk, Student.
Illustrative example (Digital University Kerala) — not from the Standard.
01Mind map — related concepts
Metamodel
DEFINES
Entity types, attributes, relationships
TOGAF 10 NAME
Enterprise Metamodel (Core — Fig 3-8)
HELPS ENSURE
Consistency · completeness · traceability
DEFINED IN
Preliminary — part of the EA Capability
STORED IN
Architecture Metamodel (Repository component)
NOT TO CONFUSE WITH
Content Framework (categorization)
Source: CC §3.12.1–3.12.3, §4.54 · AC §7.1
02Content Framework vs Enterprise Metamodel vs Model
| Concept | What it is |
|---|---|
| Content Framework | A categorization framework used to structure the Architecture Descriptions, work products and models (CC §3.12.1–3.12.2) |
| Enterprise Metamodel | The types of entities in the enterprise and the relationships between them that need to be captured, stored, and analyzed (CC §3.12.1) |
| Architecture Model | A representation of a subject of interest (CC §4.17) |
Source: CC §3.12.1–3.12.3, §4.17
03Preliminary Phase — define the content structure (CC §3.12.1)
Define the Content Frameworkcategorization of descriptions and work products
Define the Enterprise Metamodelentity types + relationships
Define the specific artifactscatalogs, matrices, diagrams to develop
Source: CC §3.12.1
04Where it appears in the ADM
Preliminary
An essential task when establishing the EA Capability is to define the Content Framework, the Enterprise Metamodel, and the specific artifacts.
CC §3.12.1
Architecture Repository
The Architecture Metamodel component holds the tailored framework, including a metamodel for architecture content.
AC §7.1
05Exam traps
“TOGAF mandates one modeling notation” → It does not constrain artifact selection or notation (ArchiMate, BPMN, UML, ER, flowcharts…)
“The metamodel is a model of the enterprise itself” → It describes the entity types and relationships; models contain the instances
“Every enterprise uses TOGAF's metamodel unchanged” → Entity types are enterprise-specific; developing a good metamodel is part of the EA Capability
““Content Metamodel with six extensions” is the TOGAF 10 term” → TOGAF 10 uses the Enterprise Metamodel
06Self-test — tap to reveal
Q1Define a metamodel.
A model describing the entities used in building an Architecture Description, their characteristics, and key relationships.
Q2What is TOGAF 10's term?
Enterprise Metamodel.
Q3Give three things a metamodel helps ensure.
Consistency, completeness, traceability.
Q4Does TOGAF constrain your modeling notation?
No.
Q5In which phase is it defined?
Preliminary (establishing the EA Capability).
Q6Which repository component holds it?
Architecture Metamodel.
Q7Role is an entity type. Is “Registrar” a type or an instance?
An instance.
Q8What is the Content Framework?
A categorization framework for structuring architecture descriptions and work products.