Complete ArchiMate Viewpoints Guide (Part 1): Overview of Views and Basic Viewpoints

ArchiMate views are a core concept in the ArchiMate language, representing a subset of elements and relationships that model a specific aspect of an enterprise architecture.

The official ArchiMate 3 specification defines 23 example viewpoints that serve as starting points for modeling work. These viewpoints are grouped into four categories: basic, motivation, strategy, and implementation & migration.

Basic viewpoints combine elements from the business, application, and technology layers. The guide lists several basic viewpoints, including composition, support, collaboration, and implementation, each focusing on different stakeholder concerns.

Composition view shows internal composition and aggregation of elements. Support view illustrates how elements are supported by others, typically moving upward across layers. Collaboration view highlights peer-to-peer cooperation across different aspects. Implementation view depicts how elements implement other elements, usually moving downward across layers.

The article emphasizes that the example viewpoints in the ArchiMate specification are not restrictive; architects should adapt or define their own viewpoints to address specific stakeholder concerns.

Additional information includes notes that grouping elements, connections, and other constructs can be used within each viewpoint, and the article concludes with references and links to community resources for further discussion.