While TOGAF is a flexible, high-level method, it requires tailoring to address the distinct challenges and requirements of organizations using SAP solutions.
SAP’s Enterprise Architecture (EA) Methodology is built on the foundation of TOGAF and enhanced by contributions from SAP product engineering, customer advisory, service delivery teams, and leading SAP customers. The objective is to reduce the effort needed to tailor TOGAF to typical architecture activities in real-world SAP projects.
Key Tailoring Activities Include:
- Refining TOGAF concepts, artifacts, and modeling techniques for SAP use cases
- Providing standardized tools, templates, and guidance to reduce custom development
- Preparing frameworks that address common SAP architecture patterns
SAP Reference Architecture Content
SAP provides a range of curated resources and assets to accelerate and strengthen architecture engagements:
- Tooling: Predefined tools to model and manage architectures
- Practice Recommendations: Guidelines and best practices tailored to SAP environments
- Professional Services: Expert support for architecture setup and delivery
These assets help:
- SAP partners and customers jump-start architecture engagements
- Minimize up front design work
- Ensure consistency across different architecture phases
Types of Reference Content:
- Reference Business Architectures: Independent of specific SAP products, useful for business-level planning
- SAP and Partner Reference Solution Architectures: Ready-made integration patterns and system landscapes
This content is especially valuable for system integrators who work across heterogeneous environments that include both SAP and non SAP components. These reference architectures provide:
- Integration options
- API documentation
- Middleware templates
- Master data management strategies
While highly beneficial, reference architectures must still be tailored to suit each project's specific goals and context.
Conclusion
SAP’s tailored EA methodology provides a more actionable and SAP-relevant interpretation of TOGAF. By combining structured methodology with reference content and expert guidance, SAP enables organizations to initiate and sustain practical and effective architecture practices.