Frequently Asked Questions

Mike Lambert, Chief Technical Officer and Principal Instructor with Architecting the Enterprise answers your questions about TOGAF® 9 and the new Architecting the Enterprise Training Course launched on February 2nd 2009.

Q: TOGAF 9 - Why all the fuss?

TOGAF 8 has been around for around 5 years and is a tremendous success. Major companies worldwide have adopted TOGAF. More than 8500 individuals have achieved TOGAF 8 Certification (more than half through Architecting the Enterprise). However as the SWOT analysis that we carry out on every single training course shows, there are many areas where TOGAF 8 can be improved. TOGAF 9 addresses these calls for improvement, including:

• Increased rigor including a formal Meta Model that links the artifacts of TOGAF together
• Elimination of unnecessary differences
• Additional guidelines and techniques, including
  • A formal business-driven approach to architecture scoping and segmentation
  • Business capability-based planning
  • Guidance on how to use TOGAF to develop Security Architectures and SOAs
• Many more examples

Q: TOGAF 9 - Is it a revolution?

No. A design objective for TOGAF 9 was that it should represent a smooth transition from TOGAF 8. The base structure of TOGAF, The Architecture Development Method (ADM), remains unchanged. All of the new material is added within that structure, which means that you can select which of the new capabilities you adopt in your organization. No organization needs to choose between TOGAF 8 and TOGAF 9. Nothing from TOGAF 8 has been lost in the evolution; much value has been added.

Q: Why has Architecting the Enterprise changed it's training course?

The SWOT analysis carried out during every Architecting the Enterprise training event and course feedback forms indicates clearly that attendees want and need the added value introduced in TOGAF 9. In fact, we frequently find that we are building informal Meta Models on flip-charts and addressing many of the gaps in TOGAF 8 through discussion and questions. Adopting TOGAF 9 as the basis for our training courses provides a level of consistency and there is absolutely no disadvantage.

Q: What if I still need TOGAF 8 certification?

Our new course still meets all of the requirements for TOGAF 8 certification and is a certified TOGAF 8 training course. You can still opt to become TOGAF 8 certified by registering to do the TOGAF 8 course. You will know everything you need to know about TOGAF 8 and will also get an insight into the added value of TOGAF 9. If your organization has adopted TOGAF 8 you will be in a position to suggest how you can adopt new approaches from TOGAF 9.

Q: What are my options if I want TOGAF 9 certification?

TOGAF 9 certification is based on an external examination. Our new training course addresses ALL of the "learning outcomes" on which the TOGAF 9 examinations are based.

Architecting the Enterprise will, depending on the facilities available at different locations, either offer the opportunity to prepare for and take the TOGAF 9 examination, and will allow you to purchase a "voucher" that can be used at any Prometric examination center worldwide.

Q: What are the differences between TOGAF 8 and TOGAF 9?

Features that are common to TOGAF 8 and TOGAF 9

• The business rationale for Enterprise Architecture and TOGAF
• The TOGAF Architecture Development Method and its deliverables, including Business, Data, Applications and Technology Architecture
• The Enterprise Continuum
• Enterprise Architecture Governance
• Architecture Principles and their development
• Architecture Views and Viewpoints
• Requirements Engineering using Business Scenarios
• Architecture Maturity Assessments
• Architecture Skills Framework
• An Introduction to Building Blocks

Features added in TOGAF 9

• Architecture Partitioning
• Content Framework and Meta Model
• Capability Based Planning
• Business Transformation Readiness
• Using TOGAF to develop Security Architectures
• Architecture Repository
• Using TOGAF to develop SOAs