The Enterprise Continuum
The Enterprise Continuum as related to TOGAF is used to describe how generic solutions can be specalised and leveraged in order to support the individual requirements of an organisation. Specifically the Enterprise Continuum sets the broader context for an architect.
Think of the Enterprise Continuum as a virtual repository of all the assets that make up the architecture; for example:
- Patterns
- Architecture descriptions
- Models
The Enterprise Continuum is also able to aid communication as it provides a consistent language with which to categorise and classify artifacts.
The Enterprise Continuum consists of two core concepts:
- Solutions Continuum
- Architecture Continuum
Solutions Continuum
The Solutions Continuum provides a way to consistently understand and describe the implementation of the assets which are defined within the Architecture Continuum. The Solutions Continuum also defines the Solution Building Blocks (SBBs) that are able to be reused within the organisational environment.
Architecture Continuum
The Architecture Continuum provides a way to consistently understand and refine the generic representations, rules and relationships within the Architecture. This representation includes the derivation and trace-ability relationships.