System Architect (software)

System Architect is a software tool for visualization and analysis of enterprise architecture and business processes of an organization. It serves to facilitate communication about internal processes and the IT architecture between the parties within the company and to create through analysis and visualization of the relationships between technology, processes and the associated corporate goals and strategies decision-making basis for future changes. System Architect supports all participants in this task of Enterprise Architecture Management. Software Architect is developed by IBM and software sold under the brand Rational.

The latest version 11.4 was released on 14 September 2010. It runs under Windows XP/Vista/7; the server component on Windows Server 2003 and 2008.

History

The first version of System Architect was developed by Jan Popkin in the U.S. and published in 1988. The worldwide success of the tool soon blew the possibilities of small firm and Popkin Software was acquired by the Swedish company Telelogic in 2005. Telelogic turn was bought in 2008 by IBM and assigned to System Architect IBM Rational Software brand.

Models of enterprise architecture

For the different levels of an enterprise architecture, different types of modeling have traditionally been affected. Various modeling standards are combined in the System Architect in one tool. All information is stored in a central database, called the Encyclopedia stored. The metamodel can be individually adapted according to user feedback. Supported frameworks include:

• Zachman Framework,
• The Open Group Architecture Framework ( TOGAF )
• Department of Defense Architecture Framework ( DoDAF )
• Ministry of Defense Architectural Framework ( MODAF )
• TM Forum NGOSS and others.

Visualization and analysis

Business and IT information can be visualized with System Architect and merged. In Blueprints can be strategies, goals and organizations, enterprise architecture and processes to analyze. Applications, services and data, systems, networks, and components can be modeled graphically and related to each other. This can better be assessed and the right decisions for future investments are made ​​effects of changes.

User interface of System Architect

For the different roles that work with the tool, there are various ways to use the tool: a Native Client, a Web client or use a publishing component.