How to establish a TOGAF9 EA Practice Phase A

TOGAF has a method called the ADM (Architectural Development Method), the good news is that the same method applies to defining any Architecture (including setting up the Architecture Practice itself).

The ADM breaks down into phases that are run iteratively (not always in a set sequence). So lets get started with Phase A:

Phase A – Setting the Vision;

1. Who are the architectural practice stakeholders going to be?
2. What requirements do they have - write down a baseline and target vision for what is to be achieved.
3. Who are the business stakeholder going to be?
4. What vision do they have – write down the target business goals in business terms like efficiency, savings, agility etc.
5. Identify the constraints that may prevent you achieving that vision.
6. With the constraints in mind bite off a manageable chunk that will take you some way down the road from baseline to target, in a defined time set a scope of what you expect to achieve.
7. Document the companies Architectural and Business Principles, worth the effort here as these are possibly the most effective documents to take the debate out of decisions in the future, try to manage through overlapping conflicting principles.
8. Define a statement of work and get approval to go to the next step (phase B).

The promised land is referenced here from TOGAF9:

Other TOGAF Links:

• Introduction to TOGAF 
• How to Establish a TOGAF EA Practice Part 1
• How to Establish a TOGAF EA Practice Part 3
• How to Establish a TOGAF EA Practice Part 4
• How to Establish a TOGAF EA Practice Part 5