The Zachman Framework isn’t exactly a methodology, at least not in the way most IT management frameworks are, mainly because it doesn’t offer specific processes for handling data. Instead, it’s considered an “ontology” or “schema” to help organize enterprise architect artifacts such as documents, specifications and models. The framework considers who is affected by the artifact, such as the business owner, and weighs that against the issue or problem being addressed.

Originally developed by John Zachman at IBM in 1987, the Zachman Framework has been updated several times since. It is aimed at organizing and analyzing data, solving problems, planning for the future, managing enterprise architecture and creating analytical models.

The Zachman Framework remains relevant for modern businesses today largely because technology environments have grown increasingly complex, with legacy technology and information scattered throughout the organization, often lost to employees who have moved on to other systems and solutions. With the Zachman Framework’s 36-column matrix, you can catalogue all your organization’s architecture, which can help your organization stay agile and flexible in the face of change by giving you detailed insights into your company’s IT assets.

The Zachman Framework uses 36 categories for describing anything from products, to services, to hardware and software. Categories are organized in six rows by six columns, forming a two-dimensional matrix with 36 cells that helps you visualize the topic, problem or product.

The columns of a Zachman Framework template outline the fundamental questions surrounding the architecture in question (who, what, where, and so on), while the rows represent the perspectives of each type of stakeholder involved in the project. The finished matrix is then filled in with processes, necessary materials, important roles, relevant locations and any goals or rules associated with the project, based on the fundamental question and perspective represented in each cell.

The six rows of the Zachman Framework matrix include:

The six columns of the Zachman Framework template include all of the questions that you’ll ask during the process:

The framework is designed to work with both physical objects and conceptual ideas. To fill in the matrix’s columns and rows, you will need to input from stakeholders and will likely include redundancies and duplicate information. The goal is to reduce these redundancies as much as possible, finishing with a concise document that delivers a clear picture into your organization’s enterprise or IT architecture.

Zachman established seven guiding rules or principles for completing the two-dimensional matrix:

The Zachman Framework is an agile and flexible framework that offers the stringent structure of a two-dimensional matrix. Within the 36 cells that you complete, you will be able to establish the solution for a problem and implement changes in your organization. But if you want to learn more about the framework or how to use it, the Zachman International offers official Zachman Framework training and certification through Zachman International.

During the four-day “hands-on modeling workshop” you will look at real life examples of the Zachman Framework and learn how to build and implement primitive models. You’ll learn how to implement the Zachman framework and concepts in your own company along with several methodologies and tools that help support the framework.

This story, "What is the Zachman Framework? A matrix for managing enterprise architecture" was originally published by CIO.