The Architecture Development Method
The ADM is the core of the TOGAF® Standard: an iterative method for developing an Enterprise Architecture. Work through each phase below — read what it’s for, study a worked example of its inputs and outputs, and tick off its official steps as you learn them. Your progress is saved in this browser only.
Click a phase to open it. Requirements Management runs continuously at the center of the cycle.
All phases
Preliminary Phase
Prepare the organization: define 'where, what, why, who, and how we do architecture'.
Phase A: Architecture Vision
Start the cycle: set scope, identify stakeholders, create the Vision, and get approval to proceed.
Phase B: Business Architecture
Describe how the enterprise operates to reach its goals: capabilities, value streams, processes, organization, and information.
Phase C: Information Systems Architectures
Develop the Data and Application Architectures that enable the Business Architecture and the Vision.
Phase D: Technology Architecture
Define the logical and physical technology components that realize the Business, Data, and Application Architectures.
Phase E: Opportunities and Solutions
Turn gaps into a delivery approach: work packages, Transition Architectures, and the initial Architecture Roadmap.
Phase F: Migration Planning
Finalize the roadmap and produce a costed, sequenced Implementation and Migration Plan agreed with the wider portfolio.
Phase G: Implementation Governance
Govern the implementation: Architecture Contracts, compliance reviews, and architectural oversight of delivery projects.
Phase H: Architecture Change Management
Keep the architecture alive: monitor change, manage risk and value, and decide when a new ADM cycle is needed.
ADM Architecture Requirements Management
The continuous hub of the ADM: identify, store, and feed requirements into and out of every phase.
How to use this app
- Each phase page explains its objectives, official steps, inputs and outputs, and gives study tips for the certification exams.
- The example documents show what typical phase inputs and deliverables look like for a fictional retailer, Meridian Retail Group — follow the same scenario from the Preliminary Phase through to Change Management.
- The checklists track your study progress — this is a learning tool, not a tool for running a real ADM project. No project data is stored: only which steps you’ve ticked, in your browser’s local storage.