Zachman Framework The University of California Berkeley Extension Copyright © 2008 Patrick McDermott DataPeopleActivitiesTechnologyNetworks

Classification Troubles Generates a lot of documentation, due to its completeness, which can be difficult to digest and sometimes of questionable utility In practice, one can ask how every question (why, what, how…) is related to every ingredient (data, function…). The questions are by no means as objective as they appear; one person’s how is another person’s what is another person’s why. The rows conflate perspective with idealisation, allowing for the definition of each perspective (enterprise, system and technology) at each level of abstraction (high level, medium level and excruciating detail).

6 by 6 Communication Interrogatives –What, How, Where, Who, When, and Why Stakeholder Groups –Visionary, Owner, Designer, Builder, Implementer, and Worker

Building Blocks People Data Activities—Biz or Systems Processes & Activities Networks—Geography or Networks Technology

People 1.System Owners 2.System Users 3.System Designers 4.System Builders People

User View of Self 1.Executive Managers 2.Middle Managers 3.Project & Team Leaders/Supervisors 4.Technical & Professional Workers 5.Clerical Workers No Blue Collar??? People

Data 1.Business resources 2.Data requirements 3.Computer files & databases 4.Data programs Data

Activities 1.Functions 2.Business processes 3.Computer processes 4.Computer applications programs Activities

Activities: Applications 1.Office automation 2.DSS / Expert systems 3.EIS 4.MIS Activities

Networks 1.Geography 2.Business networks –aka Logistics Network 3.Computer networks 4.Network programs Networks

Technology 1.Information Technology 2.It’s the base, matches each of the other 4 –Data Technology –Processing Technology –Communications Technology –Technical Specialists Technology

Ze Zachman Whitten & pals derived a color-coded scheme from the Zachman framework. Consider getting the pyramid they use. 4 faces, resting on the Technology block. Each face represents one Building Block and has various levels. CIO might care a lot…. –SA maybe not so much…

Building Blocks People Lavender Purple Data Gold Black Activities Rose Red Networks Tan Brown Technology Aqua Blue DataPeopleActivitiesTechnologyNetworks