new grouping element: Template element <>
A Template is a collection of architectural elements serving the modeling purposes.
The intention is:
- Representing the architecture elements that too detailed for the focus of the model or view.
- Providing a way to avoid repetitions of similar architecture. (classification) or simplify repeated architectures.
- Providing a language supported way to structure the model in sub-models.
The difference between abstract or instance instances of modeled elements is in the current specification blur. That is ok in most of the cases. The constituting elements of the Template are explicit abstract as the Template is used to realize instantiated instances. This is different to the existing 'grouping' element: A template serves modeling purpose, while a grouping element has semantic characteristics.
Meta model:
- A template is a composition/aggregation of ArchiMate core elements.
- A template is used to realize a core element.
- A template element must have composing elements.
Examples:
- A set of technology elements: Nodes, Functions, Networks etc are a template for a server cluster. A server cluster template can be used to realise other nodes that are in fact a server cluster of which the content is modelled.
- Multiple departments of an organization share a similar structure. The organization of the product development in Belgium and the product development in France are realized based on a common department structure template.