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Zachman Framework in Enterprise Architecture
BlueDolphin supports the Zachman Framework, empowering organizations to structure, manage, and communicate Enterprise Architecture through a complete and contextual classification matrix.
What is the Zachman Framework?
The Zachman Framework is a foundational model for Enterprise Architecture. It is a classification scheme that helps to organize and describe every component of an enterprise across multiple dimensions.
Used by organizations to manage complexity and guide transformation, the Zachman Framework helps align IT and business perspectives through structured architectural views.
Why use Zachman Framework in Enterprise Architecture?
Holistic understanding
Capture all dimensions of your enterprise - data, process, people, technology - in a structured format that supports informed decision-making.
Improved communication
Clarify responsibilities and expectations across stakeholders, from executives to engineers, through shared architectural viewpoints.
Change readiness
Maintain a baseline of your current architecture to manage transformation initiatives with traceability and precision.
How the Zachman Framework works
The framework is structured as a 6x6 matrix, totaling 36 cells. It maps six fundamental questions (columns) against six stakeholder perspectives (rows), enabling detailed yet contextualized architecture documentation.
The Six Interrogatives (Columns):
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What? Business data, information objects
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How? Processes and functions
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Where? Distribution and location models
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Who? Roles, responsibilities, and people
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When? Events, timing, and scheduling
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Why? Business goals and motivations
The Six Stakeholder Perspectives (Rows):
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Scope (Planner): High-level enterprise context
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Business View (Owner): Business operations and goals
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System View (Designer): Logical architecture and systems
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Technology View (Builder): Physical systems and infrastructure
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Detailed Representation (Sub-contractor): Implementation-level details
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Functioning Enterprise (User): Operational systems in action
When should you use the Zachman Framework?
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When your organization needs a structured, non-methodological view of its enterprise architecture
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During major transformation or modernization initiatives
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To support cross-functional alignment across business and IT
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For governance, communication, and impact analysis
Zachman Framework & BlueDolphin
BlueDolphin helps teams adopt the Zachman Framework by digitizing the matrix and linking it to live architecture data, documentation, and visuals. Teams can classify artifacts, connect strategic goals to execution, and align stakeholders across business and IT.
See how BlueDolphin enables organizations to apply the Zachman Framework effectively. Book a demo today.