TOGAF definition
The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) is an enterprise architecture methodology that offers a high-level framework for enterprise software development. TOGAF helps organize the development process through a systematic approach aimed at reducing errors, maintaining timelines, staying on budget, and aligning IT with business units to produce quality results.
The Open Group developed the framework in 1995, and by 2016, 80% of Global 50 companies and 60% of Fortune 500 companies used it. TOGAF is free for organizations to use internally, but not for commercial purposes. Businesses can, however, have tools, software or training programs certified by The Open Group. There are currently eight certified TOGAF tools and 71 accredited courses offered from 70 organizations.
In 2022, The Open Group announced the latest update to the framework and released the TOGAF Standard, 10th Edition, to replace the previous Standard, 9.2 Edition. The Open Group states that the 10th Edition will help businesses operate more efficiently and will provide more guidance and simpler navigation for applying the TOGAF framework.
As more organizations adopt AI technology, the TOGAF 10 framework can help businesses navigate developing and implementing AI-driven enterprise architecture. The methodology’s focus on compliance and security can guide organizations through the development and implementation process of AI architecture, while mitigating risk.
TOGAF framework overview
Like other IT management frameworks, TOGAF helps businesses align IT goals with overall business goals, while helping to organize cross-departmental IT efforts. TOGAF helps businesses define and organize requirements before a project starts, keeping the process moving quickly with few errors.
TOGAF 10 brings a stronger focus to organizations using the agile methodology, making it easier to apply the framework to an organization’s specific needs. The latest edition uses a modular structure that is simpler to follow and implement, making the framework easier to implement in any industry.
The TOGAF framework is broken into two main groups, which include the fundamental content and extended guidance. The fundamental content includes all the essentials and best practices of TOGAF that create the foundation for the framework. The extended guidance portion of TOGAF includes guidance for specific topics such as agile methods, business architecture, data and information architecture, and security architecture. The extended guidance portion of TOGAF is expected to evolve over time as more best practices are established, whereas the fundamental content offers a basic starting point for anyone looking to apply the framework.
The Open Group states that TOGAF is intended to accomplish the following:
- Ensure everyone speaks the same language
- Avoid lock-in to proprietary solutions by standardizing on open methods for enterprise architecture
- Save time and money, and utilize resources more effectively
- Achieve demonstrable ROI
- Provide a holistic view of an organizational landscape
- Act as a modular, scalable framework that enables organizational transformation
- Enable organizations of all sizes across all industries to work off the same standard for enterprise architecture
Agile framework for agentic AI
TOGAF 10 offers a flexible and adaptable framework for designing, integrating, and governing agentic AI systems. Following the framework’s principles can help IT leaders ensure AI architecture aligns with business goals, while also maintaining governance and ethical standards. TOGAF’s flexibility also enables enterprises to grow and adapt their AI architectures as the technology and its use cases evolve.
When approaching agentic AI development, TOGAF 10 can help organizations:
- Establish key stakeholders and identify key tools and principles
- Identify risk and address ethical questions around AI
- Ensure proper compliance and governance of AI
- Guide the overall integration of AI with existing infrastructure
- Offer a framework for identifying skills, data, and technology gaps in the organization necessary for AI transformation
- Demonstrate strategic alignment between AI architecture and business goals
TOGAF business benefits
Th framework helps organizations implement software technology in a structured and organized way, with a focus on governance and meeting business objectives. Software development relies on collaboration among multiple departments and business units both inside and outside of IT, and TOGAF helps address any issues around getting key stakeholders on the same page.
TOGAF is intended to help create a systematic approach to streamline enterprise architecture and the development process so that it can be replicated, with as few errors or problems as possible as each phase of development changes hands. By creating a common language that bridges gaps between IT and the business side, it helps bring clarity to everyone involved.
It’s an extensive document — but you don’t have to adopt every part of the framework. Businesses are better off evaluating their needs to determine which parts of the framework to focus on. With the modular updates to the TOGAF Standard 10th Edition, creating a custom TOGAF framework should be easier than ever. Organizations can start with the core fundamentals, and then pick and choose parts to adopt from the extended guidance portion of the document.
TOGAF certification and training
On releasing TOGAF 10, The Open Group decided to keep TOGAF 9.1 certification exams as-is, while introducing three new exams to address updates made to the framework. TOGAF 9.1 Level 1 and Level 2 cover the foundations of TOGAF and ensure that past certifications do not become obsolete in the face of an updated framework. The three new exams include the TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Foundation, TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Practitioner, and TOGAF Business Architecture Foundation.
These certifications are combined into learning path options appropriate for differing levels of experience. The first of the three learning paths is the Team level, for those in roles that require a basic understanding of enterprise architecture or who work in customer service. The second is the Practitioner level, for anyone at the management level or who is responsible for developing enterprise architecture. The third and final learning path is the Leader level, for those establishing an enterprise architecture capability.
The TOGAF certification scheme is especially useful for enterprise architects, because it’s a common methodology and framework used in the field. It’s also a vendor-neutral certification that has global recognition. Earning your certification will demonstrate your ability to use the TOGAF framework to implement technology and manage enterprise architecture. It will validate your abilities to work with TOGAF as it applies to data, technology, enterprise applications, and business goals.
According to PayScale, a TOGAF certification can boost your salary for the following roles:
| Job Title | Average Salary | With TOGAF Certification |
|---|---|---|
| IT enterprise architect | $158,795 | $166,414 |
| Solutions architect | $135,178 | $157,089 |
| Software architect | $139,438 | $170,000 |
| IT director | $131,727 | $152,949 |
For more IT management certifications, see “20 IT management certifications for IT leaders.”
TOGAF tools
The Open Group keeps an updated list of TOGAF-certified tools, which includes the following software:
- Alfabet AG: planningIT 7.1 and later
- Avolution: ABACUS 4.0 or later
- BiZZdesign: BiZZdesign Enterprise Studio
- BOC Group: ADOIT
- Orbus Software: iServer Business and IT Transformation Suite 2015 or later
- Planview: Troux
- Software AG: ARIS 9.0 or later
- Sparx Systems: Enterprise Architect v12
For more tools that support enterprise architecture and digital transformation, see our list of the top 20 enterprise architecture tools.
The evolution of TOGAF
TOGAF is based on TAFIM (Technical Architecture Framework for Information Management), an IT management framework developed by the US Department of Defense in the 1990s. It was released as a reference model for enterprise architecture, offering insight into DoD’s own technical infrastructure, including how it’s structured, maintained, and configured to align with specific requirements. Since 1999, the DoD hasn’t used the TAFIM, and it’s been eliminated from all process documentation.
The Architecture Development Method (ADM) is at the heart of TOGAF. The ADM helps businesses establish a process around the lifecycle of enterprise architecture. The ADM can be adapted and customized to a specific organizational need, which can then help inform the business’s approach to information architecture. ADM helps businesses develop process that involve multiple check points and firmly establish requirements, so that the process can be repeated with minimal errors.
TOGAF was released in 1995, expanding on the concepts found in the TAFIM framework. TOGAF 7 was released in December 2001 as the “Technical Edition,” followed by TOGAF 8 Enterprise Edition in December 2002; it was then updated to TOGAF 8.1 in December 2003. The Open Group took over TOGAF in 2005 and released TOGAF 8.1.1 in November 2006. TOGAF 9 was introduced in 2009, with new details on the overall framework, including increased guidelines and techniques. TOGAF 9.1 was released in 2011 and the most recent version, TOGAF 10 was released in 2022.
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Source: News