Software Architecture framework provides guidance by partitioning the design of a system into abstract classes and then defining their responsibilities and collaborations. While focusing on a particular task, the architect customizes the framework to a particular application via sub-classes and instances. When the focus is on IT Architecture, a framework provides guidance for structuring IT assets while considering all relevant organizational aspects, principles, viewpoints, role players, standards, and model notations.

A useful framework provides flexibility, guidance, and a logical method to safeguard the architecture activities so that the results are applicable and useful to the enterprise. CxT Group utilizes The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) as the framework to develop technical architectures for our client applications. TOGAF provides a set of methods and tools for developing a broad range of different IT architectures. It enables CxT Group to design, evaluate, and build the right architecture for our clients and to reduce the cost of planning, designing, and implementing architectures.

TOGAF Foundation Architecture

Foundation architecture provides a generic environment, which is a technical reference model (TRM), service taxonomy, and list of compliant products and technologies stored in the Standards Information Base.

Components of TOGAF Foundation Architecture include:

• Technical Reference Model (TRM) – prescribes a taxonomy to facilitate effective partitioning of necessary services.
• Standards Information Base (SBI) – represents the standards and experience-based guidelines that have been adopted by CxT Group.
• Building Blocks Information Base (BBIB) – presents service taxonomy derived from common systems architectures available from industry architectures for specific domains.