Phase A of the TOGAF ADM, known as Architecture Vision, is where you set the direction for the entire architecture project. The main goal is to develop a high-level, aspirational view of the target architecture — one that aligns with business goals, addresses stakeholder concerns, and gets everyone excited about the possibilities.
Two key elements in this phase are:
- Identifying and articulating high-level architecture objectives — the strategic outcomes the architecture must achieve to support business needs.
- Creating the Solution Concept — a concise, visual “pencil sketch” that illustrates the major components of the proposed solution and how they deliver value to the enterprise.
Traditionally, these require brainstorming sessions, stakeholder alignment, and manual sketching or diagramming — which can take time and still feel abstract to non-technical audiences.
Visual Paradigm’s AI-powered TOGAF Guide-Through transforms this into an effortless, professional step. AI takes your problem description and instantly produces both the high-level objectives and a clear ArchiMate-based Solution Concept diagram — giving you a strong, visual foundation for Phase A right away.
Why the Solution Concept and High-Level Objectives Are Essential in Phase A
These deliverables help:
- Clearly communicate the “big picture” of what the architecture will achieve
- Align stakeholders early on the vision and expected business value
- Guide detailed work in later phases (B, C, D) without losing sight of strategic goals
- Secure buy-in and approval to proceed with the ADM cycle
- Bridge the gap between business drivers and technical architecture
TOGAF recommends a simple, high-level diagram (often in ArchiMate) for the Solution Concept — one that shows key components, their relationships, and how the solution benefits the organization — making it ideal for executive summaries and stakeholder discussions.
How AI Generates the Solution Concept & Objectives in Visual Paradigm
In the TOGAF Guide-Through, navigate to the Phase A activity: Identify High Level Architecture Objectives. The AI process is intuitive and powerful:
- Describe Your Vision
Provide a natural language summary of the business problem, goals, drivers, and desired outcomes. Example: “Our retail company needs to modernize e-commerce operations for better customer experience, integrate online and in-store inventory in real-time, reduce order fulfillment time, and support mobile shopping across multiple regions.” - AI Extracts & Articulates Objectives
The AI identifies and lists clear, high-level architecture objectives derived from your input — such as “Enable real-time omnichannel inventory visibility,” “Improve customer personalization,” or “Reduce operational costs by 20% through automation.” - Instant ArchiMate Solution Concept Diagram
AI generates a clean, standards-compliant ArchiMate diagram that visually represents the proposed solution. It typically includes key elements like business actors/services, applications, data objects, technology platforms, and their relationships — all tied back to the objectives and showing how the solution delivers value.
The diagram opens directly in Visual Paradigm’s editor. You can refine it by:
- Adding or adjusting elements for more detail
- Color-coding for emphasis (e.g., highlight business benefits)
- Linking to other Phase A artifacts (like capability assessments)
- Exporting for presentations or inclusion in the Architecture Vision document
Benefits of AI Assistance in This Phase A Step
- Speed: From description to professional diagram and objectives in seconds — no more blank-page syndrome.
- Clarity & Engagement: The visual Solution Concept makes the high-level vision easy to understand and discuss with business leaders and non-architects.
- TOGAF Alignment: Outputs follow TOGAF recommendations for a high-level, aspirational view using ArchiMate, ensuring consistency across the ADM.
- Strategic Focus: AI helps translate business problems into clear objectives and a conceptual solution, setting a strong direction for the project.
- Iterative Ease: Update your description as stakeholder feedback comes in, and AI regenerates the concept quickly.
This feature makes Phase A more approachable and collaborative — turning what used to be a conceptual hurdle into a quick, visual win that excites stakeholders.
Ready to Create Your Architecture Vision the Smart Way?
Experience how AI brings your high-level objectives and Solution Concept to life instantly.
Download Visual Paradigm today and start your free trial — describe your business goals in the Guide-Through and watch AI generate a professional ArchiMate Solution Concept diagram and objectives in moments.
Kick off Phase A with a clear, compelling vision that everyone can rally behind.