Exploring the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework Methodology

Definition: Denotes a technique used during an architectural activity, describing how a particular technique is applied to develop one or more architecture artifacts. Techniques help to structure thinking and to guide execution (e.g., gap analysis, roadmap creation, capability mapping).

TOGAF Alignment: This maps to techniques or methods recommended within TOGAF’s Architecture Development Method (ADM) to support analysis, modeling, and planning during a phase.

Definition: Represents an architecture artifact - a deliverable or work product created during the execution of an activity and possibly applying a technique. Artifacts capture outputs like diagrams, catalogs, or matrices (e.g., Business Capability Map, Application Roadmap).

TOGAF Alignment: Fully aligns with the TOGAF definition of an artifact, which is a specific piece of architectural work output, potentially part of a catalog, matrix, or diagram.

The figure depicts various architecture work products, introduced as core artifacts within the SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology. Each artifact is associated with a specific domain.

The figure lists components of the following:

• Architecture Vision
• Strategy and Motivation
• Business Architecture
• Solutions Architecture
• Technology Architecture
• Roadmap and Transition
• Requirements and Governance

This image introduces the core domains of the SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology and the key artifacts produced within each. These domains provide a structured approach for aligning business and IT strategies, capturing the architecture vision, and guiding transformation through well-defined architectural layers.

The Architecture Vision domain focuses on an initial sketch on what the overall outcome of the architecture work is expected to be. To ensure success, relevant stakeholders should be identified and the context from both business and IT should be gathered. This includes already formulated business and IT strategies, which will be refined for the selected scope within the Strategy & Motivation domain. Finally, the "statement of architecture work" defines the scope and requirements of what to do in next phase of the project.

Strategy and Motivation defines the drivers, goals, and objectives that shape enterprise change. It captures the high-level strategic direction of the organization and articulates the motivation behind architectural initiatives. This domain ensures that architecture efforts are aligned with business priorities and helps communicate the purpose and value of change to stakeholders, providing clear rationale for decisions and guiding transformation initiatives.

The Business Architecture domain focuses on describing an organization with reference to all business aspects including capabilities, processes, data, and organizational structure. It facilitates business-led discussions with all stakeholders and decisions based on agreed business terms. It enables communication of business values and impact of architecture work to all stakeholders.​

The Solution Architecture domain covers reference, baseline, target, and/or transition architectures focusing on capabilities, processes, data, and organizational structure. The value of Solution Architecture lies in its ability to align technology solutions with business goals and requirements. Solution architectures serve as a bridge between the business side and the technical side of an organization, ensuring that technology solutions are designed and implemented in a way that meets business needs.​

The Technology Architecture domain focuses on documenting how the target solution architecture building blocks are delivered via technology components (e.g. operating systems, virtualized environments, hardware, networks) and depicts the deployment of organization’s IT systems in specific data center locations.

The Roadmap & Transition domain focuses on uncovering project growth opportunities and managing the transition of systems or processes in a given time. It involves pinpointing potential advantages, planning migrations, and executing changes to achieve the project's objectives efficiently.​

The Requirement and Governance domain is not linked to a particular phase of an architecture engagement, but includes relevant governance artifacts like a risk catalog, architecture principles, and captures important architecture decision as Architecture Decision Records (ADR). Requirements are not only gathered during the creation of the architecture vision, but can emerge in any architecture domain, making continuous requirements management essential, as these requirements often evolve throughout the project’s progression.

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology is a methodology aligned with the TOGAF standard and tailored to the SAP Reference Architecture.

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology has evolved from the formerly known Industry Reference Architecture (IndRA) framework, a SAP internal project.

It provides a comprehensive approach used by SAP and customers to systematically map IT Solutions to business needs. Internally SAP uses the framework to build enterprise architecture content. Customers apply the framework to define their desired future business scope and desired target architecture.

The recommendation for our customers is to follow a phased approach. It can be used by any enterprise to find the IT Solutions that meet their business need. Same holds true also for SAP's own IT.

This approach is in line with the TOGAF® standard from The Open Group, a proven EA methodology used by the world's leading organizations to improve their business efficiency.

The TOGAF Architecture Development Method (ADM) cycle is the result of continuous contributions from a large number of architecture practitioners. It describes a method for developing and managing the lifecycle of an Enterprise Architecture.

The ADM is highly iterative: within phases, between phases, between cycles, and stakeholder reviews after the phases.

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology - Metro Map outlines the following:

The full set of architecture artifacts (recommended and optional)

Input from the SAP Reference Architecture to define the target architecture both in terms of business and IT domains

References to existing architecture work products such as principles, standards and guidelines as well as existing baseline business and solution architectures

The selection of artifacts again very much depends on the nature of the architecture project and the stakeholders involved. These should be selected for the sake of the stakeholders (not for the sake of architecture)

Note that there will be iterations within and across the individual phases (the intention of the visualization is not to give the impression of a waterfall based approach).

Independent of the approach chosen, it is strongly recommend to run the architecture work in iterations (as also foreseen by the TOGAF ADM). A combination of different approaches has been proven as a best practice.

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology combines industry standards (TOGAF) with best practices and high-quality content in one framework.

We took the freedom to select the most relevant artifacts of the TOGAF ADM and augmented the theoretical definition with real content and examples. This work was featured by multiple years of architecture project experience.

The case study guides customers and partners through an end-to-end ADM cycle in a tangible approach.

In the future, the consumption of reference content will be supported by a dedicated tool chain.