ArchiMate®

Quick Reference Guide

Elements

Active Behavior Passive

Structures Structures

Collaboration Interface Interaction Function Process Event Service Object

The collective Makes a A business Business Business A state change Exposes A passive element
BUSINESS LAYER

effort of business process behavior behaviors that triggers other that has relevance
multiple rules service performed by based on that achieve or interrupts business from a business
working on a available to the multiple roles resources a specific other business elements’ perspective
single goal environment rather than outcome, as behaviors functionality
flow in BPMN

Pre-Sales Service Verify Claim Assign Pay Invoice New Invoice Payment Invoice
Examples

Activity Hotline/ (by Supervisor Claim to Arrived Service

Web Chat & Sales Agent) Accountant
APPLICATION LAYER

Specifies Specifies Describes Represents Internal Denotes a Represents Contains

which the way a the collective automated, behavior per- state change exposed some piece of
components component’s behavior of internal formed by an that may application information in the
are needed to functionality a connected behavior of application trigger/ behavior/ form of an object
perform some is exposed collaboration an application component to interrupt other functionality type
collaborative to the component achieve a spe- application
task environment cific outcome behavior

Transaction Transaction Communica- Accounting Invoice Request for Transaction Billing

Administration API tion Pattern or Billing Creation Transaction Processing Information
Examples

(Billing and
Accounting)
TECHNOLOGY LAYER

Multiple Specifies Behavior The internal Similar to the Instantaneous Exposes the Represents the
nodes how the of multiple behavior of a Technology element that functionality type of physical
cooperating functionality nodes working node can be Function can trigger/in- of a node Objects that can
to perform a of a node can together in a described by but more terrupt other and makes it be manipulated
collaborative be accessed technology a Technology focussed on technology accessible by the Technology
task. collaboration Function sequences components Layer

Access Control Data Formats Communica- Grant Data Authorize Request for Data Artifact
Examples

(User and Data tion Pattern Access User Data Access Management
Management)

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ArchiMate®
Quick Reference Guide
IT Infrastructure Application Components and Services Business Function

Server 1

Customer Customer
Database 1 Windows Server Management Verify Order
Administration
2013 System

MySQL Order Shipment Provide

Processing Management Good(s)

Inventory
Management
Lan Internet Data Access System Send
Service Good(s)

Back-up Server

Process
Billing Payment
Database 2 Linux

Enterprise
Java Beans
Financial Transaction
Customer‘s Bank
Application API

Two connected Servers with different Software Three Services that make use of Application The Order Process and its
and Data Storage Systems offer data access to the Components are provided to the Business individual steps served by
application components through a Service. Processes. A Transaction Interface allows the application services.
communication with the bank.

Structural Connections Dependency Connections

Composition: An Element consists of other Serving: The serving relationship models
elements, e.g. company, departments --> no that an element provides its functionality
departments without the company to another element

Aggregation: An Element has other
elements, e.g. department, employees -->
employees exist without department
Assignment: The assignment relationship
expresses the allocation of responsibility,
performance of behavior, or execution
Realization: The realization relationship
indicates that an entity plays a critical role
in the creation, achievement, maintenance,
or operation of a more abstract entity
Access: The access relationship models the
ability of behavior and active structure
elements to observe or act upon passive
structure elements
Dynamic Connections
Triggering: The triggering relationship
describes a temporal or causal relationship
between elements
Flow: The flow relationship represents
transfer from one element to another

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