What is an Enterprise Model ?

In the existing literature, Enterprise Models may also be called Enterprise Architectures, or Enterprise Frameworks. Use of these different terms has led to considerable confusion. On this web site we have used "Enterprise Model" as the preferred terminology. The term "Architecture" will be reserved for logical or physical architectures which are the final result of the enterprise design process.

Enterprise Models are comprised of:

• An overall conceptual framework (usually expressed diagrammatically)
• Architectures, which may be physical (hardware) or Logical (software) and
• Methodologies, which are different at each phase of the enterprise, and for each organizational group.

Enterprise Models also include a diagramatic "framework" for structuring information about the enterprise. The PERA "Wind chime" is an example of such a diagram.

Enterprise Methodologies describe the work processes involved in life cycle "phases" such as Master Planning, Design, Construction and Operations. This PERA Master Planning flow diagram is an example of a Methodology used during the Conceptual Engineering Phase.

Enterprise Architectures indicate main functional entities, and how these relate to other items in the architecture.

Logical architectures indicate how software and information flows are structured.

Physical or Hardware Architectures indicate how computer hardware and networks are structured according to the 4Rs (Response, Resolution, Reliability, and Resilience).

Click here for a list of Enterprise Methodologies and the Models they define.