Linked.Archi EA on a Page Taxonomy
type: Ontology
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
preferred namespace prefix: eaoptax
creator: Kalin Maldzhanski
description: SKOS taxonomy of the 24 EA artifacts identified by Kotusev across 27+ organizations, classified by the CSVLOD types and usage frequency. Also includes the EA Maturity Model (Stage Zero through Stage Three) and the EA Governance classification (architecture tiers, governance bodies, governance activities).
created: 2020-07-27
modified: 2026-05-03
publisher: Linked.Archi
publisher: linked.archi
status: draft
version IRI: 0.1.0#
version info: 0.1.0
was derived from: EA on a Page (Svyatoslav Kotusev, 2017)

EA on a Page Artifact Classification
type: ConceptScheme
definition: Classification of 24 EA artifacts by CSVLOD type and usage frequency.
has top concept: Considerations
has top concept: Standards
has top concept: Visions
has top concept: Landscapes
has top concept: Outlines
has top concept: Designs

Considerations
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Global conceptual rules for IT governance — principles, policies, guidelines.
artifact nature: rules
artifact focus: business-focused

Standards
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Proven reusable solutions — technology reference models, patterns, guidelines.
artifact nature: rules
artifact focus: IT-focused

Visions
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: High-level future-state descriptions — capability models, target architectures, roadmaps.
artifact nature: structures
artifact focus: business-focused

Landscapes
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Current-state descriptions — landscape diagrams, inventories, portfolios.
artifact nature: structures
artifact focus: IT-focused

Outlines
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Initiative-level architecture — solution overviews, options assessments.
artifact nature: solutions
artifact focus: business-focused

Designs
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Project-level specifications — solution designs, detailed technical specs.
artifact nature: solutions
artifact focus: IT-focused

Principles
type: Concept
type: Consideration
broader: Considerations
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: High-level policy statements guiding IT-related decision-making across the organization.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Policies
type: Concept
type: Consideration
broader: Considerations
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Specific mandatory rules and regulations governing IT decisions and operations.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Conceptual Architectures
type: Concept
type: Consideration
broader: Considerations
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: High-level conceptual models describing the fundamental structure of the IT landscape.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Guidelines
type: Concept
type: Consideration
broader: Considerations
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Non-mandatory recommendations and best practices for IT-related activities.
usage frequency: uncommon
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Technology Reference Models
type: Concept
type: Standard
broader: Standards
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Structured catalogs of approved technologies organized by functional area with lifecycle status.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Patterns
type: Concept
type: Standard
broader: Standards
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Proven reusable solution templates for common architectural problems.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

IT Principles
type: Concept
type: Standard
broader: Standards
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Technology-specific principles governing the selection and use of IT components.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Technology Guidelines
type: Concept
type: Standard
broader: Standards
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Detailed technical recommendations for implementing approved technologies.
usage frequency: uncommon
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: permanent
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Business Capability Models
type: Concept
type: Vision
broader: Visions
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Structured maps of business capabilities showing what the organization does, independent of how.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Target State Architectures
type: Concept
type: Vision
broader: Visions
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Descriptions of the desired future state of the IT landscape aligned with business strategy.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Roadmaps
type: Concept
type: Vision
broader: Visions
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Sequenced plans showing the transition from current state to target state over time.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Value Chains
type: Concept
type: Vision
broader: Visions
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Descriptions of how value flows through the organization from input to customer outcome.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: StrategicPlanning

Landscape Diagrams
type: Concept
type: Landscape
broader: Landscapes
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: High-level visual maps of the current IT landscape showing systems and their relationships.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Inventories
type: Concept
type: Landscape
broader: Landscapes
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Structured lists of IT assets — applications, technologies, interfaces, data stores.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Enterprise System Portfolios
type: Concept
type: Landscape
broader: Landscapes
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Assessed collections of enterprise systems with lifecycle status, fitness, and ownership data.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Integration Maps
type: Concept
type: Landscape
broader: Landscapes
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Diagrams showing data flows and integration points between enterprise systems.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: organization-wide
artifact lifecycle: long-lived
used in process: TechnologyOptimization

Solution Overviews
type: Concept
type: Outline
broader: Outlines
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: High-level descriptions of proposed solutions showing key components and their interactions.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: initiative-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Options Assessments
type: Concept
type: Outline
broader: Outlines
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Comparative evaluations of alternative solution approaches with trade-off analysis.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: initiative-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Initiative Architectures
type: Concept
type: Outline
broader: Outlines
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Architecture descriptions scoped to a specific initiative or program of work.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: initiative-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Architecture Briefs
type: Concept
type: Outline
broader: Outlines
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Concise summaries of architectural decisions and direction for a specific initiative.
usage frequency: uncommon
artifact scope: initiative-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Solution Designs
type: Concept
type: Design
broader: Designs
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Detailed technical designs of specific solutions with component specifications.
usage frequency: essential
artifact scope: project-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Detailed Specifications
type: Concept
type: Design
broader: Designs
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Low-level technical specifications for implementation — interface contracts, data models, deployment configs.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: project-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Interface Contracts
type: Concept
type: Design
broader: Designs
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Formal specifications of interfaces between systems — APIs, message formats, protocols.
usage frequency: common
artifact scope: project-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

Deployment Architectures
type: Concept
type: Design
broader: Designs
in scheme: EA on a Page Artifact Classification
definition: Descriptions of how solutions are deployed to infrastructure — environments, topology, scaling.
usage frequency: uncommon
artifact scope: project-scoped
artifact lifecycle: short-lived
used in process: InitiativeDelivery

EA on a Page Maturity Model
type: ConceptScheme
definition: Classification of EA practice maturity into four stages based on empirical observation across 27+ organizations. Describes what is typically observed at each stage, not what should be achieved in a linear progression.
has top concept: Stage Zero — No Architecture
has top concept: Stage One — IT Optimization
has top concept: Stage Two — Solution Delivery
has top concept: Stage Three — Enterprise Architecture

Stage Zero — No Architecture
type: Concept
type: MaturityStage
top concept of: EA on a Page Maturity Model
in scheme: EA on a Page Maturity Model
alternative label: Stage 0
definition: No established EA practice. IT decisions are made ad hoc by individual project teams without overarching governance, standards, or strategic alignment. There are no dedicated architecture roles, no shared artifacts, and no architecture governance bodies.
scope note: Typical characteristics: no EA artifacts in use, no architecture roles, no governance arrangements, no strategic IT planning. IT is purely reactive.
maturity challenge: Duplicate systems and redundant technologies proliferate unchecked.
maturity challenge: IT investments are not aligned with business strategy.
maturity challenge: No shared understanding of the IT landscape across the organization.
maturity challenge: Integration between systems is ad hoc and fragile.

Stage One — IT Optimization
type: Concept
type: MaturityStage
top concept of: EA on a Page Maturity Model
in scheme: EA on a Page Maturity Model
alternative label: Stage 1
definition: EA practice focused on technology rationalization. Standards and Landscapes are the primary artifacts. The Technology Optimization process is established. Architecture governance is informal or limited to technology standards compliance.
scope note: Typical artifacts: Technology Reference Models, Landscape Diagrams, Inventories. Typical roles: enterprise architects focused on technology. Governance: informal technology standards review.
maturity stage process: TechnologyOptimization
maturity stage artifact: Standard
maturity stage artifact: Landscape
maturity benefit: Reduced technology duplication through standards enforcement.
maturity benefit: Shared visibility of the current IT landscape.
maturity benefit: More informed technology selection decisions.
maturity challenge: EA perceived as IT-only function with limited business engagement.
maturity challenge: Architecture governance may be seen as bureaucratic overhead.
maturity challenge: Difficulty demonstrating business value of EA practice.

Stage Two — Solution Delivery
type: Concept
type: MaturityStage
top concept of: EA on a Page Maturity Model
in scheme: EA on a Page Maturity Model
alternative label: Stage 2
definition: EA practice extends to guiding project delivery. Initiative Delivery process is established alongside Technology Optimization. Outlines and Designs are produced for major initiatives. Solution architect roles emerge. Architecture review becomes a formal gate in the project lifecycle.
scope note: Typical artifacts: all Stage One artifacts plus Solution Overviews, Options Assessments, Solution Designs. Typical roles: enterprise architects and solution architects. Governance: formal architecture review board for project-level decisions.
maturity stage process: TechnologyOptimization
maturity stage process: InitiativeDelivery
maturity stage artifact: Standard
maturity stage artifact: Landscape
maturity stage artifact: Outline
maturity stage artifact: Design
maturity benefit: Improved solution quality through architecture review.
maturity benefit: Better standards compliance in project implementations.
maturity benefit: Reduced rework through early architecture guidance.
maturity benefit: Reuse of proven patterns and reference architectures.
maturity challenge: Architecture review may slow project delivery if not well-integrated.
maturity challenge: Tension between enterprise standards and project-specific needs.
maturity challenge: Strategic alignment still limited without business engagement.

Stage Three — Enterprise Architecture
type: Concept
type: MaturityStage
top concept of: EA on a Page Maturity Model
in scheme: EA on a Page Maturity Model
alternative label: Stage 3
definition: Full EA practice with all three processes established. Strategic Planning is active, producing Considerations and Visions that guide investment decisions. All six CSVLOD artifact types are in use. Architecture governance spans from enterprise strategy to project delivery. Business leaders actively participate in architecture-informed strategic planning.
scope note: Typical artifacts: all 24 artifacts across all six CSVLOD types. Typical roles: enterprise architects, solution architects, business leaders, IT leaders. Governance: multi-tier governance with strategic and operational review bodies, formal escalation paths, and governed artifact lifecycle.
maturity stage process: StrategicPlanning
maturity stage process: TechnologyOptimization
maturity stage process: InitiativeDelivery
maturity stage artifact: Consideration
maturity stage artifact: Standard
maturity stage artifact: Vision
maturity stage artifact: Landscape
maturity stage artifact: Outline
maturity stage artifact: Design
maturity benefit: IT investments aligned with business strategy.
maturity benefit: Business leaders actively engaged in architecture-informed planning.
maturity benefit: Coherent technology landscape with managed evolution.
maturity benefit: Consistent solution quality across the portfolio.
maturity benefit: Reduced total cost of ownership through rationalization and reuse.
maturity challenge: Sustaining business engagement over time.
maturity challenge: Keeping architecture artifacts current as the organization evolves.
maturity challenge: Balancing governance rigor with organizational agility.
maturity challenge: Measuring and communicating the value of EA to the business.

EA on a Page Governance Classification
type: ConceptScheme
definition: Classification of EA governance arrangements including architecture tiers, governance body types, and governance activities. Based on EA Function on a Page by Kotusev.
has top concept: Architecture Tiers
has top concept: Governance Bodies
has top concept: Governance Activities

Architecture Tiers
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Governance Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Levels in the architecture governance hierarchy.

One-Tier Model
type: Concept
type: ArchitectureTier
broader: Architecture Tiers
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: A single EA team handles all architecture activities — strategic planning, technology optimization, and initiative delivery. Typical in smaller organizations or early-maturity EA practices.
tier level: 1

Two-Tier Model
type: Concept
type: ArchitectureTier
broader: Architecture Tiers
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Enterprise architects handle strategic and technology artifacts (Considerations, Visions, Standards, Landscapes) while solution architects handle initiative-level artifacts (Outlines, Designs). The most common governance model observed in practice.
tier level: 2

Three-Tier Model
type: Concept
type: ArchitectureTier
broader: Architecture Tiers
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Adds a domain or segment architecture layer between enterprise and solution tiers. Domain architects manage domain-specific standards, landscapes, and cross-initiative coordination. Typical in large, complex organizations.
tier level: 3

Governance Bodies
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Governance Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Types of organizational bodies that govern architecture decisions.

Architecture Review Board
type: Concept
type: GovernanceBody
broader: Governance Bodies
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: A governance body that reviews and approves architecture artifacts, particularly Outlines and Designs, for standards compliance and strategic alignment. Typically operates at the solution/project tier.

Steering Committee
type: Concept
type: GovernanceBody
broader: Governance Bodies
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: A senior governance body that oversees strategic architecture direction, approves Visions and Considerations, and resolves escalated architecture decisions. Typically includes business and IT leaders.

Technology Council
type: Concept
type: GovernanceBody
broader: Governance Bodies
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: A governance body focused on technology standards and landscape rationalization. Reviews and approves Standards artifacts, manages the Technology Reference Model, and governs technology lifecycle decisions.

Governance Activities
type: Concept
top concept of: EA on a Page Governance Classification
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Types of governance activities in an EA practice.

Architecture Review
type: Concept
broader: Governance Activities
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Review of architecture artifacts against standards, principles, and strategic direction.

Approval
type: Concept
broader: Governance Activities
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Formal approval of an architecture artifact or initiative to proceed.

Amendment
type: Concept
broader: Governance Activities
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Modification of an approved architecture artifact to reflect changed requirements.

Exemption
type: Concept
broader: Governance Activities
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Temporary deviation from established standards or principles for a specific initiative.

Escalation
type: Concept
broader: Governance Activities
in scheme: EA on a Page Governance Classification
definition: Escalation of a decision or conflict to a higher-tier governance body.