TOGAF ADM: Top 10 techniques – Part 6: Interoperability Requirements

Interoperability Requirements in Organizations and Extended Enterprises

Defining the degree of interoperability required for sharing information and services is important in complex organizations or extended enterprises, as it helps to establish clear architectural requirements for the systems and stakeholders involved. By setting clear interoperability goals, organizations can ensure that their systems and stakeholders are able to effectively communicate and exchange information in a standardized and efficient manner, which can ultimately lead to improved productivity and reduced costs.

Information Systems Interoperability Matrix (ISIM) in TOGAF

The Information Systems Interoperability Matrix (ISIM) is a part of the TOGAF framework that describes the relationships between various components of an information system. It is a tool used to ensure that the various components of an information system can work together effectively.

The ISIM is used to define the interfaces and protocols that are necessary for communication between different components of an information system. It helps to identify any gaps or inconsistencies that may exist in the system, and to develop solutions to address these issues.

The ISIM is typically developed during the Architecture Development phase of the TOGAF ADM (Architecture Development Method) and is used to inform the design of the Target Architecture. The ISIM may include a number of different components, including hardware, software, data, networks, and security.

Overall, the ISIM is an important tool for ensuring that an information system is interoperable and can communicate effectively with other systems in a complex enterprise environment.

Interoperability matrix with stakeholders in the columns and software systems in the rows

Here’s an example of an interoperability matrix with stakeholders in the columns and software systems in the rows. The cells represent the degree of interoperability between each software system and stakeholder, with 1 representing Unstructured Data Exchange and 4 representing Seamless Sharing of Information.

In this example, we have identified four different software systems (CRM, Inventory Management, ERP, and Marketing Automation) and four different stakeholders (Business Analysts, Developers, Data Scientists, and Sales Team). The cells in the matrix represent the degree of interoperability between each software system and stakeholder.

For example, the cell in row 1, column 3 represents the degree of interoperability between the CRM System and Data Scientists. In this case, the degree of interoperability is 2, which represents Structured Data Exchange. This means that the CRM System can exchange data with Data Scientists in a structured format, but there may be some limitations or restrictions on the types of data that can be exchanged.

Legend of Matrix

This legend provides a brief description for each degree of interoperability. Degree 1 represents Unstructured Data Exchange, which means that data can be exchanged between systems, but there may be limited structure or organization to the data. Degree 2 represents Structured Data Exchange, which means that data can be exchanged in a structured format, but there may be limitations or restrictions on the types of data that can be exchanged. Degree 3 represents Seamless Sharing of Data, which means that data can be shared between systems without limitations or restrictions, but there may be some limitations on the level of integration between systems. Finally, Degree 4 represents Seamless Sharing of Information, which means that systems can share information seamlessly and integrate fully with each other.

Overall, this type of matrix can be useful for identifying areas where interoperability could be improved between different software systems and stakeholders, and for guiding the development of solutions to improve interoperability.

Adding More Meaning to Cell of the Interoperability Matrix

In this example, we have five software systems, represented along both the rows and columns of the matrix. The cells of the matrix represent the degree of interoperability between each pair of systems, with two dimensions (a-d and 1-4) representing the types of information shared and the level of standardization or compatibility required.

For example, the cell representing the interoperability between System 1 and System 3 is 2c, which means that these two systems have a degree 2 (Structured Data Exchange) of interoperability, and that they share common data exchange (Dimension 2: Level of Standardization/Compatibility = 2) related to patient care (Dimension 1: Type of Information Shared = c). The cell representing the interoperability between System 4 and System 5 is 4a, indicating that these two systems have a degree 4 (Seamless Sharing of Information) of interoperability, and share real-time data exchange (Dimension 2: Level of Standardization/Compatibility = 1) related to patient care (Dimension 1: Type of Information Shared = a).

Example

Here’s an example of a 5×5 interoperability matrix with two dimensions for each cell:

Legend 1: Interoperability Degrees

• Degree 1: Limited Data Sharing (A)
• Degree 2: Structured Data Exchange (B)
• Degree 3: Seamless Sharing of Data (C)
• Degree 4: Seamless Sharing of Information (D)

Legend 2: Interoperability Dimensions

• Dimension 1: Type of Information Shared (a-d)
• Dimension 2: Level of Standardization/Compatibility (1-4)

Example: healthcare system