Business System Architecture Definition Matrices

During business system architecture definition, you cluster activities and data to identify likely business areas. In addition to setting the scope of future projects, you rank the projects that are based on the current environment assessment.
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Bus_Sys_Arch_Def_Matrices

Clustered Business Function/Entity Type Matrix

The Clustered Business Function/Entity Type Matrix reveals business functions and entity types that have a high degree of affinity with one another. The matrix is derived from cluster and affinity analysis on the Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) values you entered when defining the information architecture. Only the lowest-level functions appear in the matrix.
You can use the Clustered Business Function/Entity Type Matrix to detect irregularities in groupings, discover errors in anticipated data usage, and determine the best way to group data and activities.
Clustered matrices that are the principal technical aids in determining potential business areas are:
  • Clustered Business Function/Entity Type Matrix
  • Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix
  • Business Function/Business Function Matrix.
The Clustered Business Function/Entity Type Matrix is an intermediate step toward creating Business Area/Business Function and Business Area/Entity Type Matrices.
Possible cell values are C, R, U, or D.
This matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.

Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix

The Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix identifies groups of entity types that have a high degree of affinity with one another based on a common usage by business functions.
Gen
creates the Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix when you cluster the Business Function/Entity Type Matrix.
Cell values of 1 through 9 are generated automatically to indicate the degree of affinity. The highest affinity is represented by 9 and the lowest is 1. The values are derived from the Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) indicators in the Clustered Business Function/Entity Type Matrix.
You cannot add, delete, or cluster elements in this matrix.
To identify major groups of entity types you can hide cell values below a certain cutoff point, such as 7. Entity types with a value of 6 or less can be added to one of the business areas within the major groups of entity types. Use the Include, Remove, and Def BA commands to define business areas and assign entity types to them. Assign a meaningful name to each business area.
The Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix and the Business Area/Entity Type Matrix are reciprocal. Any change made to one affects the other.
The matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.
The cell values in this matrix are mirrored on either side of the diagonal (which consists of all 9's). Focus only on one side when grouping entity types.

Business Area/Entity Type Matrix

The Business Area/Entity Type Matrix records the entity types to include in each business area. This matrix and the Business Area/Business Function Matrix define the scope of future Analysis projects.
To help rank business areas, review this matrix with the Entity Type/Information Need Matrix that is created when defining the information architecture.
In the Business Area/Entity Type Matrix, a business area can have principal or shared responsibility for an entity type. (This distinction is meaningful only if you name and define data clusters in the Data Clusters/Entity Type Matrix.)
Principal responsibility means that the entity type is included in a data cluster that is assigned to the business area.
Shared responsibility means that the entity type is accessed by business functions that are included in the business area.
Gen
populates the business area axis and the cells if business area names and entity type assignments exist in the Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix. Changes in the Business Area/Entity Type Matrix are reflected in the Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, or blank. You can assign a number to indicate whether a business area has principal or shared responsibility for an entity type.
The suggested values are:
1 = Principal responsibility
2 = Shared responsibility
This matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.
If you assign an entity type to more than one business area, designate one business area as having a principal responsibility.

Business Function/Business Function Matrix

The Business Function/Business Function Matrix identifies groups of business functions that have a high degree of affinity with one another based on common usage of entity types
Gen
creates the Business Function/Business Function Matrix when you cluster the Business Function/Entity Type Matrix. Only the lowest-level functions appear in the Business Function/Business Function Matrix.
Cell values of 1 through 9 are derived automatically from the Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) indicators to indicate the degree of affinity. The highest affinity is represented by 9 and the lowest is 1.
To identify major groupings of business functions, you can hide cell values below a certain cutoff point, such as 7. Business functions with a value of 6 or less can be added to one of the business areas within one of the major groups of business functions. Assign a meaningful name to each business area.
Use the Include, Remove, and Def BA commands to assign business functions to business areas defined in the Entity Type/Entity Type Matrix, and define new business areas.
The Business Function/Business Function Matrix and the Business Area/Business Function Matrix are reciprocal. Any change made to one affects the other.
This matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.
The cell values in this matrix are mirrored on either side of the diagonal (which consists of all 9's). Focus only on one side when grouping business functions.

Business Area/Business Function Matrix

The Business Area/Business Function Matrix records the business functions to include in each business area.
The Business Area/Entity Type Matrix and the Business Area/Business Function Matrix define the scope of future Analysis projects.
In the Business Area/Business Function Matrix, a business area can have principal or shared responsibility for a business function. (This distinction is meaningful only if you name and define activity clusters in the Activity Cluster/Business Function Matrix.)
Principal responsibility means that the business function is included in an activity cluster that is assigned to the business area.
Shared responsibility means that the business function uses entity types that are included in the business area.
Gen
populates the rows and columns if business areas are defined in the Business Function/Business Function Matrix. The cells are populated with Xs that are based on business function assignments.
The Business Function/Business Function Matrix and the Business Area/Business Function Matrix are reciprocal. Any change made to one affects the other.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, or blank. You can assign a number to indicate whether a business area has principal or shared responsibility for a business function.
The suggested values are:
1 = Principal responsibility
2 = Shared responsibility
This matrix is 1 of 14 core matrices.
For the purposes of logical organization, each business function should be assigned to one business area.

Data Cluster/Entity Type Matrix

The Data Cluster/Entity Type Matrix lets you name data clusters and make a cross-reference of data clusters and entity types.
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populates the entity type axis if entity types exist in the data model or another matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank.

Business Area/Data Cluster Matrix

The Business Area/Data Cluster Matrix associates each data cluster with the business area that is responsible for it. Each data cluster should be responsible for only one business area.
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populates the data cluster axis if the Data Cluster/Entity Type Matrix exists.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank.

Activity Cluster or Business Function Matrix

The Activity Cluster/Business Function Matrix lets you name activity clusters and reference them to the business functions included in the activity cluster. Only the lowest-level functions are included.
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populates the business function axis if the functions exist in the activity model or another matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank.

Business Area/Activity Cluster Matrix

The Business Area/Activity Cluster Matrix lets you name business areas and reference them to the activity clusters included in an area. Each activity cluster should be assigned to only one business area.
Gen
populates the rows and columns if the activity clusters and business areas exist in the Activity Cluster/Business Function Matrix and the Business Area/Data Cluster Matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank.

Business Area/Business System Matrix

The Business Area/Business System Matrix lets you name business areas and reference them to the business systems included in an area. You can forecast the assignments during Planning and change the names during Design.
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populates the business area axis if the business areas exist in another matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank.

Business Area/Current Information System Matrix

The Business Area/Current Information System Matrix lets you confirm that business areas are defined correctly. The matrix helps you determine which systems should undergo current systems analysis during the Analysis phase.
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populates the rows and columns if the business areas and current information systems exist in another matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank.
The suggested values are:
1 = Business area is responsible for analyzing this system.
2 = Business area also is supported by this system.

Performance Measure/Business Function Matrix

The Performance Measure/Business Function Matrix records the potential impact of business functions on performance measures. This information helps you rank business areas, particularly when you review it with the Business Area/Business Function Matrix. The matrix helps senior managers visualize the impact of conceptual business functions on the concrete realities of the business.
Gen
populates the rows and columns of this matrix if performance measures are in another matrix and an activity model exists. Only the lowest-level functions appear in the business function axis of matrix.
Possible cell values are X, 1 through 9, and blank. Suggested cell values are 1 through 4 where:
1 = Slight impact
2 = Moderate impact
3 = Significant impact
4 = Great impact
For the purposes of logical organization, each business function should be assigned to only one business area.