Linked.Archi ArchiMate 3.2 Taxonomy
type: Ontology
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
preferred namespace prefix: amtax
creator: Kalin Maldzhanski
description: Pure SKOS taxonomy classifying ArchiMate elements by layer and by aspect, and relationship types by category. For OWL abstract classes used in SHACL constraint checking, see archimate3.2-onto.ttl.
editorial note: This taxonomy and the OWL abstract classes in archimate3.2-onto.ttl serve complementary purposes and are NOT duplicates: SKOS concepts (this file) OWL classes (onto file) ───────────────────────── ────────────────────────── amtax:ActiveStructureAspect am:ActiveStructureElement amtax:BusinessLayer am:BusinessLayerElement Purpose: navigation, palette Purpose: formal semantics, generation, UI filtering, SHACL constraint checking, SKOS visualization tools SPARQL reasoning Example: a modeling tool reads Example: a SHACL shape checks skos:narrower to populate the rdf:type/rdfs:subClassOf* element palette grouped by am:BehaviorElement to enforce layer and aspect. "triggering can only connect behavior elements". The two are linked via rdfs:seeAlso on each SKOS concept pointing to its corresponding OWL class. See AM-DD-1 in doc/archimate/design-decisions.md.
created: 2019-03-17
modified: 2026-04-14
publisher: Linked.Archi
publisher: linked.archi
status: draft
version IRI: 3.2#
version info: 3.2
source: ch-Language-Structure.html

ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
type: ConceptScheme
definition: Classification of ArchiMate elements by layer and aspect, and relationship types by category.
has top concept: ArchiMate Concept

ArchiMate Concept
type: Concept
definition: Top-level concept encompassing all ArchiMate elements, relationships, and connectors.
top concept of: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
broader: ArchComponent

ArchiMate Element
type: Concept
definition: An ArchiMate element — a node in the modeling palette. Elements are the basic building blocks used to define and describe enterprise architectures.
broader: ArchiMate Concept
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme

ArchiMate Relationship
type: Concept
definition: An ArchiMate relationship type — an edge in the modeling palette. Relationships connect elements to express dependencies, flows, and structural links.
broader: ArchiMate Concept
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme

ArchiMate Connector
type: Concept
definition: Relationship connectors (junctions) used to combine relationships of the same type using AND or OR logic.
broader: ArchiMate Concept
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Junction And
narrower: Junction Or

Element by Layer
type: Concept
definition: Classification of ArchiMate elements by their architectural layer — the primary horizontal grouping in the ArchiMate framework.
broader: ArchiMate Element
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme

Strategy Layer
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing strategic concepts: resources, capabilities, value streams, and courses of action. The Strategy layer provides the bridge between business goals and the architecture that supports them.
broader: Element by Layer
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Resource
narrower: Capability
narrower: ValueStream
narrower: CourseOfAction

Business Layer
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing business concepts: actors, roles, processes, functions, services, objects, and products. The Business layer describes the organization's operations and how it creates value.
broader: Element by Layer
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessActor
narrower: BusinessRole
narrower: BusinessCollaboration
narrower: BusinessInterface
narrower: BusinessProcess
narrower: BusinessFunction
narrower: BusinessInteraction
narrower: BusinessEvent
narrower: BusinessService
narrower: BusinessObject
narrower: Contract
narrower: Representation
narrower: Product

Application Layer
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing application concepts: components, interfaces, functions, services, and data objects. The Application layer describes the software systems that support business processes.
broader: Element by Layer
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: ApplicationComponent
narrower: ApplicationCollaboration
narrower: ApplicationInterface
narrower: ApplicationFunction
narrower: ApplicationInteraction
narrower: ApplicationProcess
narrower: ApplicationEvent
narrower: ApplicationService
narrower: DataObject

Technology Layer
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing technology concepts: nodes, devices, system software, networks, paths, and artifacts. The Technology layer describes the infrastructure that hosts and runs applications.
broader: Element by Layer
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Node
narrower: Device
narrower: SystemSoftware
narrower: TechnologyCollaboration
narrower: TechnologyInterface
narrower: Path
narrower: CommunicationNetwork
narrower: TechnologyFunction
narrower: TechnologyProcess
narrower: TechnologyInteraction
narrower: TechnologyEvent
narrower: TechnologyService
narrower: Artifact

Physical Layer
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing physical concepts: equipment, facilities, distribution networks, and materials. The Physical layer describes tangible assets and physical infrastructure.
broader: Element by Layer
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Equipment
narrower: Facility
narrower: DistributionNetwork
narrower: Material

Implementation and Migration Layer
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing implementation and migration concepts: work packages, deliverables, events, plateaus, and gaps. This layer supports planning and managing architecture transitions.
broader: Element by Layer
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: WorkPackage
narrower: Deliverable
narrower: ImplementationEvent
narrower: Plateau
narrower: Gap

Element by Aspect
type: Concept
definition: Classification of ArchiMate elements by their structural aspect — the vertical dimension in the ArchiMate framework (active structure, behavior, passive structure, motivation, composite).
broader: ArchiMate Element
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme

Active Structure
type: Concept
definition: Elements that can perform behavior — the subjects of activity. Includes actors, components, nodes, and their interfaces. Active structure elements are assigned to behavior elements.
broader: Element by Aspect
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Path
narrower: CommunicationNetwork
narrower: DistributionNetwork
narrower: Resource

Internal Active Structure
type: Concept
definition: Internal active structure elements — entities capable of performing behavior: actors, roles, collaborations, components, and nodes.
broader: Active Structure
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessActor
narrower: BusinessRole
narrower: BusinessCollaboration
narrower: ApplicationComponent
narrower: ApplicationCollaboration
narrower: Node
narrower: Device
narrower: SystemSoftware
narrower: TechnologyCollaboration

External Active Structure
type: Concept
definition: External active structure elements (interfaces) — points of access where services are exposed to the environment.
broader: Active Structure
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessInterface
narrower: ApplicationInterface
narrower: TechnologyInterface

Passive Structure
type: Concept
definition: Elements on which behavior is performed — objects, artifacts, and materials. Passive structure elements are accessed by behavior elements.
broader: Element by Aspect
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessObject
narrower: Contract
narrower: Representation
narrower: DataObject
narrower: Artifact
narrower: Material
narrower: Deliverable
narrower: Gap

Behavior
type: Concept
definition: Elements representing dynamic behavior — processes, functions, interactions, events, and services. Behavior elements describe what active structure elements do.
broader: Element by Aspect
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Capability
narrower: ValueStream
narrower: CourseOfAction

Internal Behavior
type: Concept
definition: Internal behavior elements — units of activity performed by active structure elements: processes, functions, and interactions.
broader: Behavior
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessProcess
narrower: BusinessFunction
narrower: BusinessInteraction
narrower: ApplicationFunction
narrower: ApplicationInteraction
narrower: ApplicationProcess
narrower: TechnologyFunction
narrower: TechnologyProcess
narrower: TechnologyInteraction
narrower: WorkPackage

External Behavior
type: Concept
definition: External behavior elements (services) — explicitly defined exposed behavior accessible through interfaces.
broader: Behavior
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessService
narrower: ApplicationService
narrower: TechnologyService

Event
type: Concept
definition: Event elements — instantaneous state changes that trigger or are triggered by other behavior.
broader: Behavior
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: BusinessEvent
narrower: ApplicationEvent
narrower: TechnologyEvent
narrower: ImplementationEvent

Motivation
type: Concept
definition: Motivation elements — the context and reasons behind the architecture: stakeholders, drivers, goals, requirements, principles, and values.
broader: Element by Aspect
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Stakeholder
narrower: Driver
narrower: Assessment
narrower: Goal
narrower: Outcome
narrower: Principle
narrower: Requirement
narrower: Constraint
narrower: Meaning
narrower: Value

Composite
type: Concept
definition: Composite elements that may combine multiple aspects or layers — products, groupings, locations, and plateaus.
broader: Element by Aspect
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Product
narrower: Grouping
narrower: Location
narrower: Plateau

Strategy
type: Concept
definition: Strategy elements viewed as an aspect — resources, capabilities, value streams, and courses of action that bridge business goals to architecture.
broader: Element by Aspect
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Resource
narrower: Capability
narrower: ValueStream
narrower: CourseOfAction

Relationship by Category
type: Concept
definition: Classification of ArchiMate relationship types by their semantic category.
broader: ArchiMate Relationship
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme

Structural Relationship
type: Concept
definition: Relationships modeling structural dependencies between elements: composition (part-of), aggregation (groups), assignment (performs), and realization (implements).
broader: Relationship by Category
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Composition
narrower: Aggregation
narrower: Assignment
narrower: Realization

Dependency Relationship
type: Concept
definition: Relationships modeling dependencies between elements: serving (provides functionality), access (reads/writes data), and influence (affects motivation).
broader: Relationship by Category
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Serving
narrower: Access
narrower: Influence

Dynamic Relationship
type: Concept
definition: Relationships modeling dynamic behavior between elements: triggering (temporal/causal) and flow (transfer of information, goods, or money).
broader: Relationship by Category
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Triggering
narrower: Flow

Other Relationship
type: Concept
definition: Other relationship types: specialization (is-a-kind-of) and association (unspecified or generic relationship).
broader: Relationship by Category
in scheme: ArchiMate 3.2 Concept Scheme
narrower: Specialization
narrower: Association