iServer's Enterprise Architecture
Capabilities
Shared Architecture Repository for Microsoft Office & Visio
Content
Uniquely, iServer Architecture Repository contains not just
re-useable architecture building blocks (modeling or architecture
objects) but also documents, deliverables and document components;
a mandatory requirement when using TOGAF and any other EA
method. Unlike other EA tools, models and documents stored in
the iServer remain in their original office format so content never
needs to undergo a painful export or conversion process to bring
into or out of the iServer environment.
Building Views & Viewpoints
Custom-views can be created in minutes to ensure that the
artifacts and deliverables satisfy the viewpoints of your
stakeholders. Additional information can be built into the
views to provide instructions and guidance in creation of the view
or its purpose.
Flexibility to Define Your Own Modelling Language
iServer is truly extensible. Any Visio stencil can be
deployed instantly as a new modelling standard, whether it is a
custom stencil specific to an organization, an industry sector DSL
(domain specific language), 3rd party stencil from
product vendors such as Cisco, or an industry modelling standard
such as ArchiMate (EA) or BPMN (process). Unlike many other
tools, there is no complex coding or consultancy driven changes
needed, just a simple upload into the iServer Repository.
Extensible Meta-Data
Organizations can quickly and easily define their own meta-data
requirements for anything in the iServer EA Repository - including
folders (such as projects) models, model components such as
applications or technologies, or documents such as Service Level
Agreement or Vision Papers - another example of iServer's
extensibility!
Customisable Meta-model
Most organisations need to create their own meta-model or modify
an industry standard version to suit their organizational
needs. iServer provides a fully extensible Meta-model
environment in which object types, their relationships and the
rules governing how your EA components are related can be set.
Importing Data, Synchronizing Information & Converting from
other Tools
Enterprise Architecture data created in other modelling tools,
Excel spreadsheets or mastered in other systems can be imported
into or synchronized with iServer using the Data Exchange
capability. This ensures the fast-start of EA initiatives
with no loss of data and the guaranteed integrity of the
information used in the Architecture over the longer term.
Dependency Tracking & 'What if' Analysis
Interdependency tracking is available within the iServer EA
Repository and is used to assess plan the effect of change, not
just between modelling objects (architecture building blocks), but
also between models , architecture building blocks, documents and
document components (Word bookmarks). This allows what-if
analysis to be performed against items such requirements,
objectives and goals usually held as text in Word documents.
Windows Explorer Style Document & Model Structure
As iServer's Windows Explorer style document and model structure
is familiar to most users, finding and managing information is
incredibly easy. Organizations can easily define a default
structure within which to organize their EA work to suit their
needs or can use any standard frameworks such as Zachman or the ADM
phases within TOGAF. Multiple alternate views can be created
so information is accessed in the most appropriate way or targeted
directly to specific stakeholders.
Managing Transition Architectures
Multiple Transition Architectures can be stored a single iServer
Repository. Each Transition Architecture is segmented but
managed within a single source so that queries and Gap Analysis
comparisons can be used to understand and track variances, and
dependencies established between the various architectures.
Permissions
Controls can be implemented to restrict access and editing of
Enterprise Architecture information by users of both the iServer EA
Repository and the iServer Portal. Profiles can be created to
allow approvers to 'lock' specific aspects of the Enterprise
Architecture once content has reached a specific sign-off point in
the EA governance cycle.
Change Management
Documents, models and architecture building blocks can be
'tagged' for review and approval as they move through the EA
lifecycle. Issues, comments, change request etc. can be
generated by architects and business users alike, either online or
in the EA Repository editing suite. They can be assigned to
users for review and resolution, with notification and comment
services to help move an issue through to resolution. Full
version history is provided for models, documents, and architecture
building blocks with comprehensive roll-back, purge and recovery
facilities.
Search & Filtering
Extensive search and filtering capabilities are provided within
the Enterprise Architecture Repository which allows users to create
views of the EA data for export to Excel for further analysis or
publication. This facility includes the ability to use
meta-data as repository filters.
Publishing & Browser Access to the EA Repository
iServer has two options for sharing content with the wider
business. HTML Publisher creates time-based static
views of Enterprise Architecture content with Portal providing live
access to 'real-time' repository data. Both options provide
business users with a simple way to navigate through the content,
search for data, follow dependency threads, access reports and
feedback on the quality and value of the Architecture.
Reporting & Matrices
Matrices showing Process to Organization, Application
Interfaces, RACI, CRUD and any other object relationship view can
be generated from within iServer. Once produced, matrices can
be exported to Excel for further analysis or be saved back into
iServer and made available to business users via Portal or
Publisher. A series of Report Packs provide for the
fast production of standard EA deliverables such as Gap Analysis
and Architecture Roadmaps, but the Reporting Database organizations
with a facility to write their own custom reports and queries.
