What is MODAF

What is MODAF?

4-4 minutes

MODAF (Ministry of Defence Architectural Framework) is an architectural frame work that defines a standardized way of conducting Enterprise Architecture. It is an internationally recognised enterprise architecture framework developed for supporting Defence planning and change management activities. It does this by enabling the capture and presentation of information in a rigorous, coherent and comprehensive way that aids the understanding of complex issues.

Views and Viewpoints of MODAF

MODAF architectures are developed as coherent, contiguous models that when viewed as a whole present a complete picture of the enterprise. MODAF defines a rich selection of relationships which can be used to integrate the various architectural elements.

Viewpoints of MODAF

Each Viewpoint takes a different perspective upon the architectural model; for instance, the Operational Viewpoint considers the operational nodes (logical “actors” that may be realized by one or more resources) that interact in certain ways in order to achieve the desired outcome.

The Views are divided into six categories of viewpoints (Ministry of Defense):

• Strategic Views (StVs) are used to define the desired outcomes or goals of the business and the capabilities needed to achieve these.
• Operational Views (OVs) are used to describe the tasks and activities, operational elements, and information exchanges required to conduct business and operational activities.
• Systems Views (SVs) are used to describe what happens when the Operational and Service Orientated Views are implemented and, thereby, define the solution.
• Acquisition Views (AcVs) are used to describe what is needed and how long it will take for the projects that will deliver the solution.
• Technical Views (TVs) contain standards, rules, and policy and guidance that are applicable to aspects of the architecture.
• All Views (AVs) are used to provide a summary of the contents of the architecture and any related terms/characters/abbreviations used.

Views of MODAF

MODAF is used to provide a conclusive set of rules and templates, known as Views that, when completed, provide a view of the business area being investigated by providing various charts, graphs, and text. Each of the different Views offers a separate view point on the business to support different stakeholder needs or areas of interest. MODAF

View Categories

1. Tabular: Views which are essentially tabular, which includes structured text as a special case
2. Structural: This category comprises diagrams describing the structural aspects of an Architecture.
3. Behavioral: This category comprises diagrams describing the behavioral aspects of an Architecture.
4. Mapping: These views provide a matrix (or similar) mappings between two different types of information.
5. Ontology: Views which extend the MODAF ontology for a particular Architecture.
6. Pictorial: This category comprises just one view, namely OV-1a, which is essentially a free-form picture.
7. Timeline: This category comprises diagrams describing the programmatic aspects of an Architecture.