Full ArchiMate Viewpoints Guide (Examples Included)

26-33 minutes

Viewpoints is one of the very important concepts in ArchiMate . Each viewpoint contains a dedicated set of ArchiMate elements that allows architect designers to model a specific aspect of an enterprise architecture. The official ArchiMate 3 specification provides 23ArchiMate example viewpoints for architecture designers to follow. In this ArchiMate viewpoints guide we will go over all these 23 ArchiMate viewpoints, with clear description and ArchiMate diagram examples for each of them.

Visual Paradigm Enterprise Edition is a certified ArchiMate 3.1 enterprise architecture tool. It supports all ArcihMate 3 vocabulary, notation, syntax, and semantics.

Download Now

What is ArchiMate Viewpoint?

In the ArchiMate language, a viewpoint is a relevant subset of ArchiMate elements and relationships, put together on a diagram in representing a particular part of an architecture.

What are ArchiMate Example Viewpoints?

ArchiMate suggests a set of example viewpoints that can be used as starting points for modeling efforts. Each of these ArchiMate viewpoint comprises elements from different ArchiMate layers, addressing specific stakeholder concerns. Organizations are welcomed to apply any of these viewpoint examples in their architecture model, or to define their own ones.

The example viewpoints suggested by ArchiMate are grouped into four main categories:

Basic Viewpoints : Concepts from the three layers of Business, Application, and Technology may be used.
Motivation Viewpoints : For modeling motivational aspects of an architecture.
Strategy Viewpoints : For describing the strategic aspect of the enterprise by describing the high-level strategic direction and make-up of the enterprise.
Implementation and Migration Viewpoints : For modeling the management of architecture change, the transition from baseline to target architecture and relationships between programs and projects.

How to apply the example viewpoints?

It is important to note that the example viewpoints officially published in the ArchiMate specification should not constrain modeling activities. You should modify the example viewpoints or even to define your own viewpoints in addressing specific stakeholder concerns.

Basic Viewpoints

ArchiMate basic viewpoints cover ArchiMate elements and concepts of the three main ArchiMate layers: Business, Application, and Technology. Listed below is a table of ArchiMate 3.1 example viewpoints, grouped into four categories that indicate which the direction and scope they cover:

Composition : Viewpoints that define internal compositions and aggregations of elements.
Support : Viewpoints where you are looking at elements that are supported by other elements. Typically from one layer and upwards to an above layer.
Cooperation : Towards peer elements which cooperate with each other. Typically across aspects.
Realization : Viewpoints where you are looking at elements that realize other elements. Typically from one layer and downwards to a below layer.