| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Alternatives Analysis (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
A single, officially-designated source authorized to provide a type or many types of information that is trusted, timely, and secure on which lines of business rely. |
| Authoritative Data Source (ADS) (source: DOI ADS Policy, OCIO Directive 2008-020, August 22, 2008) |
Definition and comparison of viable alternatives to fulfill business and information management requirements and implement target architecture. For more information on alternative analysis for major IT investments, refer to OMB Circular A-11 Section 300. |
| Baseline Architecture (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Describes the current ("as is") state of the agency in terms of performance, business, data, services, and technology. |
| Business Architecture (source: OMB Enterprise Architecture Assessment Framework v3.0) |
A functional perspective of the overall agency EA, providing information about the agency's baseline and target architectures. Examples of elements are:
|
| Business Case (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Provides the justification for an investment. For more information on business cases for major IT investments, refer to OMB Circular A-11 Section 300. |
| Business Owner (source: defined by FSAWG) |
A senior official with executive decision-making authority within the segment. |
| Business Services (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Defined by the agency business model, business services include the foundational mechanisms and back-office services used to achieve the purpose of the agency, e.g., inspections and auditing, direct loans, program monitoring, and financial management. |
| Change Drivers (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Strategic, policy, performance and industry factors impacting the design and implementation of business and information management solutions. A mature EA program monitors change drivers and applies relevant drivers to maintain the enterprise architecture. |
| Communications Strategy (source: defined by FSAWG) |
Defines the critical set of stakeholders that the project is intended to assist as well as the supporting project team, including executive management, subject matter experts, governance and technical support. This strategy addresses messaging related to obtaining buy-in from stakeholders, managing stakeholder expectations, change management, and overall communication with and engagement of stakeholders. |
| Conceptual Solution Architecture (source: defined by the FSAWG) |
The conceptual solution architecture defines the segment systems and services (e.g., business and information exchange) including the supporting technical and service components. |
| Core Mission Areas (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Unique service areas that define the mission or purpose of the agency. Core mission areas are defined by the agency business model (e.g., tactical defense, air transportation, energy supply, pollution prevention and control, and emergency response). |
| Core Team (source: defined by the FSAWG) |
Key personnel from each of the segment's affected organizations that are organized and chartered to develop the segment architecture. |
| Cross-Agency Initiatives (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
OMB-sponsored initiatives such as E-Gov initiatives, Line of Business (LOB) initiatives, and other government-wide initiatives, such as Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPV6) and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12). |
| Data Model (source: Wikipedia) |
A data model in software engineering is an abstract model that describes how data is represented and accessed. Data models formally define data objects and relationships among data objects for a domain of interest. |
| Enterprise Architecture (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
A management practice for aligning resources to improve business performance and help agencies better execute their core missions. An EA describes the current and future state of the agency and lays out a plan for transitioning from the current state to the desired future state. |
| Enterprise Services (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Common or shared IT services that support core mission areas and business services. Enterprise services are defined by the agency service component model and include the applications and service components used to achieve the purpose of the agency (e.g., knowledge management, records management, mapping/GIS, business intelligence, and reporting). |
| Executive Sponsor (source: defined by FSAWG) |
An executive who is willing to champion the concept of transformation within the business area. The executive sponsor is a visionary leader for the core team and plays a key decision-making role in determining the direction and scope of the architectural findings and recommendations. |
| Modernization Blueprint (source: defined by FSAWG) |
A narrative document that outlines the current state for the segment, the findings from the architectural analysis of the segment, the corresponding recommendations, a depiction of the target state for the segment, and the description of a transition plan for migrating from the current state to the target architecture. |
| Performance Architecture (source: OMB Enterprise Architecture Assessment Framework v3.0) |
A perspective of the overall agency EA that provides information about the agency's baseline and target architectures. Examples of elements are:
|
| Performance Goals (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Target performance measures and timeframes. Goals should be outcome-oriented and targets should be ambitious. For more information on performance goals, refer to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), OMB Circular A-11, and the PART. |
| Performance Improvement Lifecycle (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
A three-phase process agencies can use to close performance gaps and improve the overall performance of the agency. The lifecycle is made up of "Architect," "Invest," and "Implement" phases. |
| Performance Measurements (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Actual results generated by the implementation of enhanced business and information management solutions. Results are monitored and measured to verify target benefits resulting from the implementation of business and information management solutions. |
| Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
A review of a program to help identify the program's strengths and weaknesses in order to inform funding and management decisions aimed at making the program more effective. A PART review looks at all factors that affect and reflect a program's performance, including its purpose and design; performance measurement, evaluations, and strategic planning; program management; and program results and accountability. |
| Program Management Plan (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Establishes the overall approach to managing the program. Describes the program, deliverables, related management plans and procedures, and methods used to plan, monitor, control, and improve the project development efforts. |
| Segment (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Individual elements of the enterprise describing core mission areas and common or shared business services and enterprise services. Segments are defined by the enterprise architecture. |
| Segment Architecture (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Detailed results-oriented architecture (baseline and target) and a transition strategy for a portion or segment of the enterprise. |
| Service (source: Federal CIO Council Services and Components Based Architectures Whitepaper) |
Discrete unit of functionality that can be requested (provided a set of preconditions is met), performs one or more operations (typically applying business rules and accessing a database), and returns a set of results to the requester. Completion of a service always leaves business and data integrity intact. |
| Solution Architecture (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
An architecture for an individual IT system that is part of a segment. A solution architecture is reconciled to the segment architecture above it. |
| Stakeholder (source: Wikipedia) |
A person, group, organization, or system who affects or can be affected by an organization's actions. |
| Strategic Intent (source: defined by FSAWG) |
The strategic intent describes the target state vision and establishes the segment performance goals. |
| SWOT diagram (source: Wikipedia) |
A strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats [of a segment] |
| Target Architecture (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Describes the future ("to be") state of the agency in terms of performance, business, data, services, and technology. |
| Transition Strategy (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
A multi-year plan to implement target architecture for all or part of an enterprise. Defines logical dependencies between transition activities and helps to define the relative priority of each activity. |
| Vision Statement (source: OMB FEA Practice Guidance) |
Summary description of the target business and information management environment to fulfill requirements, address change drivers, and achieve performance improvements. |
