Question on Modeling Multi-Dimensional Relationships
Hello all,
Using ArchiMate, I think it's perfect to build models showing two dimensional relationship, like p(a,b):S syntax, but now in my current modeling work, I need to show the clear view on multi-dimensional relationship, e.g. 3 dimensions, would like to seek your opinion on the good practice.
Purpose
Build Up Multi-Dimensional Relationships
Example
Context
In my sample, I have 3 dimensions: Market, BA (Business Area), and Product, the product delivered in each market can be related to variable BA, as below spreadsheet (the simplified sample):
I have built the elements with ArchiMate layers (business and others) as below:
If I just do the Serving relation from BA to Market and Product to Market, and then also need Product to BA relation, with that way, there's not possible to get a full picture for one line situation.
So, in above Example view, I suppose the primary relation should be firstly BA to serve a Market, then I'm Associate the related Product to the "Serving Relation" between the named BA and Market.[xq_test.archimate]
Actually I think the final goal is to make following table information to be captured into the model:
It's OK for me now to link the 2nd relation associated to the first relation, but it's not like the derivation realtions discussed in ArchiMate Specification Appendix B, and I feel following potential difficulties for making such kind of model:
- Not easy to decide which is the primary relation and which is the 2nd relation
- Once it's positioned as 2nd relation, then from the Archi analysis view, it's only linked to one "Serving Relation", and you cannot see the source and destination element, that's losing some visibility of the reality
- How's the dimension > 3?
Anyone have some experience on handling this? Actually in Data Model world, this is quite normal as the Multi-Dimensional situation.
Model file
(/uploads/d4911beb279e05c6f36ae8b8db7000b1/xq_test.archimate)
Thanks greatly in advance, regards, Xiaoqi