ArchiMate Modeling Fundamentals

ArchiMate is The Open Group's standard for enterprise architecture modeling, providing a visual language with 56 elements across 6 core layers connected by 11 relationship types.

The Six Layers

Layer	Purpose	Key Elements
Motivation	Why (stakeholder concerns, goals)	Stakeholder, Driver, Goal, Requirement, Principle
Strategy	What enterprise intends to achieve	Capability, Resource, Value Stream, Course of Action
Business	Business operations	Business Actor, Role, Process, Function, Service, Object
Application	Software and data	Application Component, Service, Interface, Data Object
Technology	Infrastructure	Node, Device, System Software, Artifact, Network
Implementation & Migration	Change management	Work Package, Deliverable, Plateau, Gap

Three Fundamental Aspects

Every layer contains elements organized into three aspects:

• Active Structure (Nouns): Elements that perform behavior—actors, components, nodes, interfaces
• Behavior (Verbs): Activities performed—processes, functions, services, events
• Passive Structure (Objects): Elements behavior acts upon—business objects, data objects, artifacts

Element Selection Decision Guide

Active Structure: Who/What Performs Behavior?

Need to model...	Use	Not
Specific person/system	Business Actor / Application Component	Role
Responsibility pattern	Business Role	Actor
Collaboration	Business Collaboration	Multiple separate actors
External access point	Interface	Component

Behavior: What Is Performed?

Need to model...	Use	Not
Sequence with defined result	Process	Function
Ongoing capability/grouping	Function	Process
Externally visible functionality	Service	Process/Function
Something that triggers behavior	Event	Process step

Passive Structure: What Is Acted Upon?

Need to model...	Use	Not
Business-level concept	Business Object	Data Object
Structured application data	Data Object	Business Object
Perceptible information form	Representation	Artifact
Deployable file/module	Artifact	Data Object

Common Confusion Points

Pair	Use First When...	Use Second When...
Component vs Function	Static structural unit	Behavior performed (no structure)
Process vs Function	Has sequence, start/end	Continuous, no sequence
Service vs Process	External view, what's offered	Internal, how it's done
Actor vs Role	Specific entity	Responsibility that can be filled by different actors

Output Formats

When creating ArchiMate models, use these formats:

Textual Description Format

Element Type: [Name]
Layer: [Layer Name]
Description: [What this element represents]
Relationships:
- [relationship type] → [Target Element]

Notation Format

[Element Type: Name] → [relationship] → [Element Type: Name]

Example:

[Business Role: Claims Handler] → [assignment] → [Business Process: Handle Insurance Claim]
[Business Process: Handle Insurance Claim] → [realization] → [Business Service: Claims Processing]

Key Principles

1. Layer consistency: Keep elements in appropriate layers; use cross-layer relationships to connect
2. Service orientation: Expose functionality through services, not direct process/function access
3. Separation of concerns: Distinguish who (actors/roles), what (behavior), and what's affected (objects)
4. Realization chains: Connect logical to physical through realization relationships

Additional Resources

Reference Files

For detailed element catalogs and layer-specific guidance:

• references/element-catalog.md - Complete catalog of all 56 ArchiMate elements with usage guidance
• references/layer-details.md - Detailed patterns for each layer