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Rene_de_Daniel
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

This article will provide further insights into the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework which was presented by Andreas Poth at the SAP Enterprise Architecture Global Summit (March ‘22) and the TOGAF® Standard 1010th Edition – Launch event (May ‘22).

The need for a common and aligned framework

Over the course of time, we have seen as Enterprise Architects in SAP Business Transformation Services, both SAP internal as well in the interaction with customers and partners, that different methodologies, artifacts, and approaches are used in architecture engagements. With the creation of a reference architecture the need for a common Enterprise Architecture Framework at SAP was obvious as different departments within the SAP organization produce and consume the content of the reference architecture. Only one common “language” and approach would ensure that information can be leveraged in an efficient and effective way both inside and outside the organization.

SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework is centered around the following four cornerstones:

Methodology: Proven, TOGAF and industry standards-based EA methodology, widely adopted throughout SAP

Reference Architecture Content: SAP Reference Business and Solution Architecture mapping Business and SAP IT Solutions

Tooling: Set of customer-facing and SAP-internal Enterprise Architecture tools

Services: Standardized SAP EA Services to support customer transformation

Rene_de_Daniel_0-1667289544244.png

Figure 1 – SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework

SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology

With the SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology, we support a sub-set of the TOGAF® Version 10 Architecture Development Method (ADM) phases. Beside requirements management and the preliminary phase, the focus is on the

  • Architecture Vision
  • Business Architecture
  • Application & Data Architecture (Information System Architecture in TOGAF terms)
  • Technology Architecture
  • Opportunities and Solutions
  • Migration Planning

We foresee a set of recommended artifacts for each phase proven widely in architecture engagements. These recommended artifacts are complemented by additional artifacts which can be used in a given architectural context on a per-need basis. At the same time, the framework is open for extensions.

The following graph outlines SAP’s customer facing (SAP Presales and SAP Consulting) enterprise architecture development process based on TOGAF® ADM with SAP-recommended artifacts. Although it looks visually like a waterfall model, it is highly iterative.

Rene_de_Daniel_1-1667289619369.png

 

Figure 2 – SAP’s customer facing architecture development process based on TOGAF® ADM with SAP-recommended artifacts

 

The overview of the recommended and optional artifacts is visualized in form of a Metro Map (see figure 3), which depicts the architecture development phases in conjunction with the artifacts rendered as stops on the metro map.

Please note that the arrows in the figure outline rather a natural flow than a strict sequence of artifacts. Majority of the artifacts are based on the TOGAF Version 10 standard.

Beside the TOGAF based artifacts, we complemented our framework with additional artifacts which have been proven to be successful in the stakeholder interaction for example the Business Model Canvas (now in its latest version as Sustainable Business Model Canvas) or the Application Use-Case Diagram which supports a Design Thinking centric and use case driven approach.

 Rene_de_Daniel_2-1667289619384.png

Figure 3 - SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology – Metro Map

Reference Architecture Content

Another highlight of the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework are the Reference Business Architecture (RBA) and the Reference Solution Architecture (RSA), as both provide standardized and authored reference content provided by SAP.

The SAP Reference architecture can be applied in SAP’s Customer Facing EA ADM and supports multiple of the artifacts outlined in figure 3.

The Reference Business Architecture and Reference Solution Architecture are structured alongside the following four architecture views:

  • Capability View
  • Process View
  • Data View
  • Organization View

Rene_de_Daniel_3-1667289734376.png

Figure 4 - SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology - Overview of core domains & models

The four views cover a business and IT related model and allow the navigation between these two perspectives. Having said that, navigation between different views and respective entities adds significant value, as the content of the reference architecture is an official and authored content.

For further information on the Reference Architecture, please refer to the blog of Maria Goltz SAP Reference Architecture Content: An Overview

Enterprise Architecture Tooling

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework is featured by a set of SAP externally-facing and internal tools, among these are

  • Signavio (with the One Process Acceleration Layer)
  • Product Map Generator (SAP internal and available in SAP engagements with SAP)
  • Roadmap Explorer
  • SAP API Business Hub
  • SAP Trust Center

Enterprise Architecture Service

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework comes along with a set of predefined enterprise architecture consulting service. Following an extract of the service catalog incl. the most relevant service offerings:

 

Architecture Point of View

 

With the architecture point of view (APoV), customers can get support in an early phase of their project on how to approach their long-term transformation needs. The service contains components for various topics like the analysis of solution-specific transformation routes, or initial evaluation of adopting SAP S/4HANA, initial guidance in the analytics and data management area, specific solution and technology focused topics, or a deep-dive into SAP’s enterprise architecture and road mapping approach.

Innovation Strategy and Roadmap

This service component helps develop a multi-year strategic road map that addresses your digital transformation needs. Starting from strategy and objectives of business and IT, it delivers a long-term target architecture that is based on current and future needs and comprises relevant functionality of SAP S/4HANA, SaaS applications, and SAP Business Technology Platform features. Proposed enablers and initiatives are prioritized by business value.

Target Architecture Assessment

When starting digital transformations, SAP customers need to define the target architecture and the roadmap to layout how to get there. The target architecture assessment focuses on existing artifacts that the project team has produced and reviews them against the industry reference architecture and the SAP road map. As a result, the necessary adjustments to the target application architecture and transition plans are jointly evaluated. 

Architecture Transformation

This service provides a comprehensive planning package from strategy down to architecture transformation planning. It supports the customer in developing a multiyear digital transformation road map including specific technical architectures, sizing efforts, required IT infrastructure, mapped SAP software components, and best practices for implementation, deployment, and technical risk mitigation

Integration Strategy

This service component supports you creating your integration strategy when you are planning a system conversion or new implementation for SAP S/4HANA, or implement software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud solutions from SAP. It includes reviewing the existing and planned integration landscape, SAP Integration Solution Advisory Methodology, and building overall integration strategy. 

Architecture Governance

Architecture governance focuses on helping ensure the enterprise architecture is set up and conducted properly. It is less about control and strict adherence to rules and more about guidance and effective usage of resources, tapping into best practices and tools to make the transformation a success.

The architecture governance service helps customers in early phases or even before their transformation has started, to establish an appropriate framework to create or evolve their enterprise architecture. It focuses on how to manage enterprise architecture and provides direction on planning to make the transformation a success and establish the intelligent enterprise in incremental steps.

As every organization is unique in its setup and level of maturity, individual services can be tailored to specific needs. This happens in a lego-like, modularized approach. The following services build the modular foundation alongside the known TOGAF ADM phases:

Rene_de_Daniel_4-1667289982818.pngFigure 5 – Enterprise Architecture Service Offering Modules

The outlined services can be booked individually and are delivered by experienced SAP Enterprise Architects around the world. For further information, please get in touch with your SAP Account team.

Conclusion

The SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework is a comprehensive Framework which combines a sound methodology with a valuable reference architecture featured by a set of tools and supported by service offerings. It offers the opportunity to create a common language and practices within the SAP Enterprise Architecture community with the potential to accelerate and streamline enterprise architecture engagements.

 Interested in learning more about the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework?

If you are interest to learn more about the new SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework you can book our new training offering which is described in this blog: SAP Enterprise Architecture Training - SAP Community Groups

24 Comments
Anup
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
0 Kudos

@Rene_de_Daniel excellent coverage of Enterprise Architecture Framework highlighting the details on Methodology, Content and Tools including Enterprise Architecture services offering 

former_member40913
Associate
Associate
0 Kudos

Thanks, @Rene_de_Daniel . Very clear and motivating description of why the creation of a unified architectural framework is critically necessary for SAP, especially now.

Stefan_Fassmann
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos

Great summary, René. Interesting to see all the different service offerings from SAP.

DV
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos

Thank you so much Rene, very good insights.

 

stevang
Active Participant
0 Kudos

Nice, I like the fact "Metro Map" stays as is with the Lean EA toolkit... 

Amin_Omidy
Active Participant
0 Kudos

HI @ Rene_de_Daniel 

A great content and information and thanks for sharing !

I just have a quick question does the "Well-Architected Framework" plays any role in this training ?

Myself as Azure Solution Architect Expert and MCT who works in SAP field with  customers to go to cloud  and also sometimes trains AZ-120, wants to know does this training considered to have this framework included in the materials already .

Since "Well-Architected Framework" is a methodology and also a tool that any customer can leverage in Hyperscalers or even on premises I believe it is one of moderns adopted frameworks plays a crucial role for go to cloud.

Here is just the Azure link for this methodology and tool:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/framework/

Thanks,

Rene_de_Daniel
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

Hi @Amin_Omidy 

thank you for your question.

We have built the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework primarily on TOGAF V.10 with strong focus on the alignment between Business and IT.

The "Well-Architected Framework" is currently not part of it.

Thanks for sharing the link here in the community.


Regards,

Rene

 

 

Amin_Omidy
Active Participant
0 Kudos

Hi  @Rene_de_Daniel 

Thanks for your quick remark!

Here is Microsoft Azure Well-Architected Framework link for SAP workload Micrsoft published very recently may help your team in future:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/framework/sap/quick-links

Thanks,

0 Kudos

Hi @Rene_de_Daniel 

Thanks for great article explaining Enterprise Architecture Framework, I have one question regrading what kind of architect roles are should  cover this whole framework.  EA, Solution Architect, Integration architect, Technology architect etc? 

Also what are their responsibilities or areas they cover.

thanks

AndreasPoth
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

@former_member9430 

One special characteristic of the SAP EA Framework is that it is consistently linked to other architecture domains.
We link e.g. concepts and reference content of the Solution Architecture to detailed aspects of Data Architecture, Integration Architecture, and Landscape Design.
Therefore it can help to give many roles a good entry point and relate their focus topics with the underlying Business or IT respectively. Our intention is of course to avoid hickups on the way from target/transition architecture definition to the actual implementation.
Of course, any EAF always addresses Business Architects, Solution Architects,  and 😉 Enterprise Architects. 
In customer engagements I had been involved we could also collaborate successfully with business matter experts, IT experts, integration architects and developers, C-level leaders.
Just wanted to add, the colleagues will also outline the target groups of the training.

Jit
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
0 Kudos

@Rene_de_Daniel, we also have the SAP Enterprise Architecture Reference Library which has similar content and it was previously aligned with TOGAF 9.0 onwards.  How does SAP EAF differ to the SAP EARL?  

Rene_de_Daniel
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

Hi @Jit ,

the SAP EAF is first of all an EA Framework. One key corner stone is the SAP Reference Architecture Content consumable through the Signavio Process Explorer (publicly available). The content itself originates from SAP EARL.

Rene_de_Daniel
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
0 Kudos

HI @former_member9430 ,

as Andreas outlined, multiple architecture roles are covered by the framework. Our training offer takes a holistic perspective of the framework (from strategy to implementation) and is geared towards Enterprise Architects with foundational TOGAF knowledge.  

AndreasPoth
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

Hi @Jit,

the SAP EAF framework consists of the TOGAF(R)-oriented methodology, SAP Reference Content, tools, and services.
EARL is the internal library where the reference content is stored (EA Reference Library).

 

 

palvarbiro
Associate
Associate

I cannot wait to see the upgrade here with LeanIX

joy3130
Explorer

Very interesting article! Curious to know how SAP Enterprise Architecture framework supports Agile architecture development and which phases are amenable to agile principles?

joy3130
Explorer
0 Kudos

Can agile principles be applied to all phases in the ADM?

stevang
Active Participant

 

@joy3130 well, the answer is no, and yes... (at least this is my view)

E.g. agile frameworks like SAFe are frameworks on it's own - stipulating different way of reaching the business goals... I wouldn't say TOGAF and SAFe do not have touching points, but I couldn't see they work together as equals... I would say "no" - this would not work. Its not about artifacts we deliver (any framework we can adjust to more, or less, "ridged" - or more, or less, "lean"), its about "ways of working" - each framework has its on routines... 

On the other hand, if we stick with TOGAF routines and ADM as an umbrella EA framework - this does not stop us to deliver specific activities within ADM in the agile manner - so "yes" we can deliver specific deliverables in each ADM phase, or individual projects etc. in the agile manner (like Scram). This would normally work just fine.

Versa-vise, integrating TOGAF into SAFe routines, where SAFe is as an umbrella - I do not believe it would work (never did try - nor consider to try - to be honest).

At the end, what I always say - any EA framework can broad our knowledge and can help us make more educated architectural decision. Frameworks are only guidelines - not rule books (well, noting new I said)…

 

 

joy3130
Explorer
0 Kudos

Very good, and thought provoking response. 

I think once the business architecture is finalized, agile principles can be applied to subsequent ADM phases, what do you think?

stevang
Active Participant

I would say "B" we can still run in agile manner as well... "A" might be challenging... 

AndreasPoth
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert

Dear all,

we often see the re-occuring misperception, that agile principles can not be applied to the architecture development method from TOGAF(R) or the SAP Enterprise Architecture Methodology architecture development method (derived and tailored by the TOGAF(R) ADM).

Please have a look at the SAP EA Framework training material or The Open Group material that outlines, how agile principles can be applied to phases, across phases and or across various cycles

joy3130
Explorer

Thanks for the clarification Andreas! Yes, as per SAP EAF and Open Group training material, I see that both Togaf as well as SAP Enterprise architecture ADM embraces agile principles within each phase and across different phases and follows a cyclical approach.

 

DavidsonIzefler
Explorer
0 Kudos

Dear @Rene_de_Daniel 

Congrats!!! Very usefull article!!! #EA #TOGAF #LeanIX

rajeshps
Participant
0 Kudos

Good Day! @Rene_de_Daniel  @AndreasPoth 

Please come forward for help and ideation inputs issuing and  I could like to kindly connect with you and I have my SAP EA cert exam soon. Please ping on my below number if you are willing to sell ideas and Connect 🙂

 

Regards,

Rajesh PS

+91-7760262915