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DT_Sam

Sam Nice

Dunstan Thomas Consulting
Friday, 02 December 2016 11:58

What's new with ArchiMate 3.0 & EA v.13?

ArchiMate 3.0

by Phil Chudley, Principal Consultant at Dunstan Thomas Consulting

  The Open Group released the official specification of ArchiMate 3.0 in June 2016, and this new specification is supported in Enterprise Architect version 13. This article summarises the new features and changes within ArchiMate 3.0 and provides an example of how to migrate an existing ArchiMate 2.0 model to ArchiMate 3.0 model using Enterprise Architect v.13.

Summary of Changes

The following is a summary of the changes made within ArchiMate 3.0:

  • Motivation Extension;
    • New element for modelling Outcomes.
    • New set of Strategy Elements, Resource, Capability, Course of Action.
  • Business Layer;
    • Representation of the Contract element modified so as to be different from the Business Object Element.
    • Location element removed (although Enterprise Architect has re-located this element to the Technology Layer – Physical Extension).
  • Application Layer;
    • Two new elements added, Application Process and Application Event
  • Technology layer;
    • Elements called Infrastructure in ArchiMate 2.0 are now called Technology in ArchiMate 3.0.
    • Four new elements added, Technology Process, Technology Interaction, Technology Event and Technology Collaboration.
    • New set of Physical Elements, Equipment, Facility, Distribution Network and Material. These elements are known as the Physical Extension.
  • Implementation and Migration Extension;
    • One new element added, Implementation Event.
  • Relationships;
    • Representation of Assignment modified to have a directional arrow.
    • Bi-directional Access relationship added.
    • Plus (positive) and Minus (negative) symbols added to Influence Relationship.
    • New relationship, Serving.

Detail of Changes

The following tables provided an example of the changes for each of the sections listed in the Summary of Changes above.

Motivation Extension

 Element Definition  Notation 
 Outcome An end result that has been achieved. motivation extension - outcome - ArchiMate 3.0
Resource An asset owned or controlled by an individual or organisation.  motivation extension - resource - ArchiMate 3.0
Capability  An ability that an active structure element, such as an organisation, person, or system possesses. motivation extension - capability - ArchiMate 3.0
Course of Action  An approach or plan for configuring some capabilities and resources of the enterprise, undertaken to achieve a goal. motivation extension - course of action - ArchiMate 3.0

Business Layer

 Element Definition  Notation 
 Contract A formal or informal specification of an agreement between a provided and consumer that specifies the rights and obligations associated with a product. business layer - contract - ArchiMate 3.0

Application Layer

 Element Definition  Notation 
Application Process A sequence of application behaviours that achieves a specific outcome. application layer - application process - ArchiMate 3.0
Application Event An application behaviour element that denotes a state change. application layer - application event - ArchiMate 3.0

Technology Layer

 Element Definition  Notation 
Technology Collaboration An aggregate of two or more nodes that work together to perform collective technology behaviour. technology layer - technology collaboration - ArchiMate 3.0
Technology Process A sequence of technology behaviours that achieves a specific outcome. technology layer - technology process - ArchiMate 3.0
Technology Event A technology behaviour element that denotes a state of change. technology layer - technology event - ArchiMate 3.0
Technology Interaction A unit of collective technology behaviour performed by (a collaboration of) two or more nodes. technology layer - technology interaction - ArchiMate 3.0
Equipment One or more physical machines, tools, or instruments that can create, use, store, move, or transform materials. technology layer - equipment - ArchiMate 3.0
Facility A physical structure or environment.  technology layer - facility - ArchiMate 3.0
Distribution Network A physical network used to transport materials or energy. technology layer - distribution network - ArchiMate 3.0
Material Tangible physical matter or physical elements. technology layer - material - ArchiMate 3.0

Implementation & Migration Extension

 Element Definition  Notation 
 Implementation Event A behaviour element that denotes a change of state related to an implementation or migration. implementation and migration extension - implementation event - ArchiMate 3.0

Relationships

 Element Definition  Notation 
Assignment Expresses the allocation of responsibility, performance of behaviour, or execution. relationships - assignment - ArchiMate 3.0
Serving Models that an element provides its functionality to another element. relationships - serving - ArchiMate 3.0
Access Models the ability of behaviour and active structure elements to observe or act upon passive structure elements. relationships - access - ArchiMate 3.0
Influence Models that an element affects the implementation or achievement of some motivation element. relationships - influence - ArchiMate 3.0

Implications to existing ArchiMate models

If an organisation has modelled their Enterprise Architecture using Enterprise Architect and ArchiMate 2, and are now using Version 13 of Enterprise Architect, they have two courses of action:

  1. Continue to model using ArchiMate 2.0. In this case no action is required either for Enterprise Architect or the model repository. An organisation would continue to model using ArchiMate 2.0 if they do not wish to make use of any of the new features in ArchiMate 3.0.
  2. Migrate their existing ArchiMate 2.0 model to ArchiMate 3.0, and then continue to model using ArchiMate 3.0. An organisation would continue to model using ArchiMate 2.0 if they wish to make use of any of the new features in ArchiMate 3.0.

My own personal opinion is that an organisation should consider moving to Enterprise Architect version 13 (mainly due its new feature of “Time Aware Modelling”) and ArchiMate 3.0. One of the main reasons, is due to inherent ambiguity (due to the lack of direction indication) in the assigns relationship in ArchiMate 2.0, which has been eliminated in ArchiMate 3.0 by making the assigns relationship directional.

Migrating an ArchiMate 2.0 model to ArchiMate 3.0

Enterprise Architect version 13 provides a migration script for this purpose. The following steps are used to perform the migration:

  1. Take a backup copy of the existing model repository.
  2. Using the Configure | Manage Technology ribbon, ensure that both ArchiMate 2.0 and ArchiMate 3.0 MDG technologies are enabled.
  3. Using the Code | Scripting ribbon, make the scripting window visible:
    Migrating ArchiMate 2.0 models to ArchiMate 3.0
  4. Select the topmost package (or view) that contains the model to migrate:
    Migrating ArchiMate 2.0 models to ArchiMate 3.0
  5. Select the script Migrate ArchiMate 2 to ArchiMate 3 in the scripting window.
  6. Right-click and select Run Script from the menu.
  7. The progress of the migration, together with any errors / warnings will be displayed in the system output window.
  8. Review the diagrams (you may have to tidy some of the relationships).
  9. Turn off the MDG ArchiMate 2.0 using the Configure | Manage Technology ribbon.
NOTE: It appears that composition relationships are NOT HIDDEN, when using nested structures in ArchiMate 3.0. I suspect this is an Enterprise Architect version 13 issue. This is likely to be fixed and should not deter migration, as these relationships can always be hidden using the Visible Relations function in Enterprise Architect. (Layout | Manage ribbon and select Show and Hide Relationships… from the menu). composition relationships - ArchiMate 3.0

Phil Chudley
Principal Consultant
Dunstan Thomas Consulting
@SparxEAGuru

You'll find lots of useful Enterprise Architect videos on our YouTube Channel.

Wednesday, 24 August 2016 11:21

New EA workshops from Dunstan Thomas

NEW: Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Workshops from Dunstan Thomas Consulting

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As an alternative to our traditional classroom style training Dunstan Thomas Consulting now offer a series of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect workshops.

These workshops provide all the fundamental practical skills that are necessary in order for you to use Enterprise Architect efficiently and effectively. The emphasis is on the practical rather than the theoretical and we will work with you so that exercises can be tailored to meet your specific modelling requirements.

 


Available Workshops

Sparx Systems Authorised Training Partner - ArcGIS Geodatabase Modelling in EAOur current offering of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Workshops include:


All details are available on our website or call our sales team on +44 (0) 23 9282 2254.

Re-Using Elements

In this latest instalment in the series Phil Chudley will be looking at how to re-use Elements from your repository in Enterprise Architect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DIs2ROV8fM 

As always all of our videos are available right now via our YouTube channel ... and don't forget to subscribe!

Managing Connectors

In this latest instalment in the series Phil Chudley will be looking at managing your connectors in Enterprise Architect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhTsvUDrgDU

As always all of our videos are available right now via our YouTube channel ... and don't forget to subscribe!

Thursday, 14 April 2016 13:21

EA User Group; London - Agenda Confirmed

The EA User Group returns to London this May

On the 17th May the annual London meeting of the Enterprise Architect User Group will be happening at Skillsmatter's Code Node venue.

The final agenda has been confirmed today and we've got a great day lined up...

Agenda

Tickets

Tickets are available from the EA User Group website at the price of £65.00 +Vat per person.

Creating Composite Elements

In this latest instalment in the series Phil Chudley will be looking at creating composite elements in Enterprise Architect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbWwYAc1ijM

As always all of our videos are available right now via our YouTube channel ... and don't forget to subscribe!

Thursday, 24 March 2016 11:07

New: Dunstan Thomas Consulting MDG Workshop

MDG Workshop

Dunstan Thomas Consulting is proud to announce the new one day MDG Workshop!

Overview


Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect provides modelling extensions to supplement UML through a technology known as Model Driven Generator or MDG. Tools are provided in Enterprise Architect for experienced users to develop their own MDGs either from scratch or based upon an existing MDG such as ArchiMate, or BPMN. This one day workshop will provide attendees with a practical experience of the tasks required to build a typical MDG.

User Story Screenshot


Agenda

The following topics will be covered:

  • What is an MDG, what it can contain and the benefits an MDG can provided to an organization.
  • Using the Model Wizard to create an MDG model repository.
  • The steps in planning an MDG.
  • Tagged values, their typed, use and creation.
  • Using the MDG Helpers to create a Profile.
  • Using the MDG Helpers to create a customized Toolbox.
  • Using the MDG Helpers to create a customized Diagram.
  • Generating the MDG.
  • Testing the MDG.
  • Deploying the MDG.
  • Making changes to the MDG and applying those changes to an existing model repository.
  • Shapescripts, their use, structure and applicability to an MDG.
  • The concept of Quicklink and its application to a customized Diagram.

Full details are available on our website.

Creating a Diagram

In this latest instalment in the series Phil Chudley will be looking at the basics involved in creating a diagram using Enterprise Architect.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs98ZjLqCMQ

As always all of our videos are available right now via our YouTube channel ... and don't forget to subscribe!

In this third instalment of exploring EA through video Phil is looking at Creating a Repository:

 

 

https://youtu.be/7SC9-UCVYFc

If you can't wait to view all of our videos from this series please visit our YouTube channel ... and don't forget to subscribe!

BPMN GeneratorBPMN Generator

An add-in for Enterprise Architect from Dunstan Thomas Consulting

We have had our very own Phil Chudley busy beavering away at a new project which is now commercially available & already in use with DT's customer base.

Overview

Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect has the functionality to create diagrams directly from Use Case textual scenarios, the most common of which is termed an Activity Graph. This Activity Graph is a simplified form of UML Activity Diagram. This works well, but many organisations have, or are in the process of, standardising the modelling of process flows using BPMN 2.0, and this form of diagram is not supported by Enterprise Architect. The BPMN Generator extension for Enterprise Architect has been developed by Dunstan Thomas Consulting Ltd to provide the functionality to generate a BPMN 2.0 process flow diagram from Use Case textual scenarios. A typical example is shown below:

Textual Scenario for the Basic Path

BPMN Generator - basic path  

Textual Scenario for the Alternate Path

BPMN Generator - alternate path  

Generated BPMN 2.0 Diagram

BPMN Generator - generated diagram


The BPMN Generator also provides the modeller with options to set:

  • The top margin of the generated diagram.
  • The left margin of the generated diagram.
  • The default height of each task.
  • The adjustment height of each task (used to ensure that text fits in a task).
  • Whether or not a new diagram and elements will be generated rather than overwrite any existing diagram and elements.

Watch the video below to see the BPMN Generator in action:

https://youtu.be/WhL9vEdvHF0 


The BPMN Generator is available from Dunstan Thomas Consulting at £85.00 +Vat per licence. If you would like additional information or to purchase licences for the BPMN Generator then please contact us.

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