Viewpoint

Intro

A viewpoint defines the perspective and conventions for building and using a view. It specifies what concerns to address and how to represent them.

Key points:

• Standardizes how views are created and interpreted.
• Maps stakeholder concerns to required content.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include catalogs, matrices, and diagrams for each viewpoint.
• Pitfall: unclear viewpoints leading to inconsistent views.

Examples:

• Capability viewpoint defining structure and metrics.
• Data viewpoint specifying entities, lineage, and policies.
• Technology viewpoint detailing platforms and services.

In practice:

Maintain a viewpoint library with purpose, stakeholders, notations, and templates.

Related terms: View; Taxonomy of Architecture Views; Architecture Framework

FAQs:

Q: Can viewpoints evolve?
A: Yes; update as stakeholder needs and standards change.

Q: Are viewpoints notation‑specific?
A: They may recommend notations but are broader than any one language.

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