Application Architects | QualiWare Center of Excellence

Decision Model

Purpose: The purpose of the Decision Model template is to document complex decisions by modelling decision trees that illustrates decision gates. Below you can see an example of a Decision Model:

Core concerns: Complex decisions can be documented as decision trees. The model illustrates the Business Decision and its underlying Rule Families. The Rule Families can contain Rule Family Tables, that precisely describe the outcome of a given set of variables. Below you can see an example of a Rule Family Table:

Relation to other templates: Where the Decision Model template illustrates the decision gates, the end to end process is described in either a Work Flow Diagram or a Business Process Diagram.

Properties and metadata: The Decision Model can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Link to the owner of the diagram
Link to the one responsible for the accuracy of the diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram
Project status: information about budgeted and actual man-hours spent, percentage completed and the latest milestone, result and quality control of a change process.

In the picture below you can see the Decision Model’s properties dialogue window, where the information can be viewed and edited:

Data Replication Diagram

Purpose: The purpose of the Data Replication Diagram template is to map a high-level view of the movement and replication of information between data sources.

Core concerns: The Data Replication Diagram template enables you to map Data Sources, Data Files, Data Transformations and Data Warehouses. These elements can then be connected by either a Data Extract or a Data Apply.

Graphical representation of the elements:

Below, is an example of a Data Replication Diagram for a commercial Data Warehouse:

The model shows that the data is extracted from different data sources, transformed and applied to the Data Warehouse from which it is extracted, aggregated and either applied to sales, production or improvement.

Relation to other templates: The Data Replication Diagram offers a high-level data mapping. The Data Transformations contained in the Data Replication Diagram can be further decomposed into more detailed Data Mapping Diagrams.

Properties and metadata: The Data Replication Diagram template can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval it

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Data Replication Diagram, where you can view and edit the diagram’s properties in QualiWare Lifecycle Manager.

Data Model Diagram

Purpose: The Purpose of the Data Model Diagram template is to model the structure of data entities of an Information System and their relationships. Documenting the structure of information is a very important part of the preliminary analysis before implementing any Information System.

Core concerns: The Data Model Diagram template enables the user to document the structure of the information, that an Information System is supposed to store. The template allows you to model using Data Entities, Subject Area, Data Entity View, Model View and inheritance. The Connection types available are: Data Relation, Inheritance Connection, Complex Relation and Generalization. Below you can see an example of a Data Model Diagram describing the information structure related to an order:

Relation to other templates: The Data Model Diagram template should not be used to document data flows. In that case the Data Flow Diagram template should be used.

Properties and metadata: The Data Model Diagram can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Link to the owner of the diagram
Link to the one responsible for the accuracy of the diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram
Project status: information about budgeted and actual man-hours spent, percentage completed and the latest milestone, result and quality control of a change process.

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Data Model Diagram where you can view and edit the diagram’s properties.

Data Mapping Diagram

Purpose: The purpose of the Data Mapping Diagram is to map data’s sources.

Core concerns: The Data Mapping Diagram template enables you to model Data Entities, Classes, Tables, Records and Mapping Algorithms. These are connected by Data Mappings. The Data Mapping Diagram is sometimes called Entity Mapping Diagram.

Below, you can see an example of a Data Mapping Diagram where data is moved from one table to another transforming from ‘customer data’ into ‘client data’:

The following very simple diagram illustrates the relations between Records and their elements:

Relation to other templates: The Data Mapping Diagram is, through the object Data Transformation, related to the Data Replication Diagram. Data Transformation is contained in the Data Replication Diagram and has a mapping which is described in the Data Mapping Diagram.

Properties and metadata: The Data Mapping Diagram can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Data Mapping Diagram where you can view and edit the diagram’s properties in QualiWare Lifecycle Manager.

Data Flow Diagram

Purpose: The purpose of the Data Flow Diagram is to document a system’s or part of a system’s data flows; the data input the system (or a process within the system) consumes and the data output the system produces.

Core concerns: The Data Flow Diagram enables you to model Processes, Data Stores, External Entities, Control Processes and Control Stores. These elements can then be connected by either Data Flows or Control Flows.

Graphical representation of the elements:

The Data Flow Diagram can show different levels of processes within a system that exchange data, and illustrate how those exchanges occur. As such, the model can document a system’s functional hierarchies.

Below, you can see an example of a Data Flow Diagram showing the Data Flows between several Data Stores, Processes and External Entities in a Bookshop:

The next example shows the Data Flow between process, Data Stores and External Entities for a Highway Repair Service:

The final example shows the Data Flows between Processes, Datastores and External Entities in an Outlook Mailbox:

Relation to other templates: The Processes in the Data Flow Diagram can be decomposed into more detailed Data Flow Diagrams to comprise the total functional model. The top level of a Data Flow Diagram is sometimes called a Context Diagram. However, in QLM we use the Data Flow Diagram template for the higher levels as well as the more detailed ones.

The Data Flow Diagram can be a decomposition of an Information System. It can offer a more detailed view of Data Flows than, for example, the Application Architecture Diagram.

An Information System could likewise be decomposed into a Business Process Diagram which offers a complimentary view less concerned with Data Stores and Data Flow, and more concerned with Activity Flow.

Properties and metadata: The Data Flow Diagram template can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Link to the owner of the diagram
Link to the one responsible for diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Data Flow Diagram template, where you can view and edit the diagram’s properties in QualiWare Lifecycle Manager.

Dashboard

Purpose: The purpose of the Dashboard template is to publish selections of Business Charts targeting different stakeholders. It should be used to gather a series of relevant or connected Business Charts to provide a dashboard-like overview.

Core concerns: The Dashboard template enables you to gather Business Charts, Key Performance Indicators, Performance Indicators and General Concepts to create stakeholder specific views of analyzed data. For example, an Enterprise Architect could find a Dashboard containing Business Charts relevant to the usage and governance of the Enterprise Architecture useful.

Below, you can see examples of different Dashboards presenting an array of Business Charts:

Relation to other templates: The Dashboard template is closely connected to the Business Chart template, as the Dashboard publishes the charts the Business Chart template generates.

Properties and metadata: The Dashboard can for example retain the following information:

A description of the Dashboard
Link to the owner of the Dashboard
Link to the one responsible for the Dashboard
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Dashboard template where you can view and edit the dashboard’s properties in QualiWare Lifecycle Manager.

Customer Journey Map

Purpose: The Purpose of the Customer Journey Map template is to document the customer’s journey from awareness to the end of their interaction with an organization, covering possible touch points from the customer’s perspective.

Core Concerns: The Customer Journey Map template allows you to model connections between different Personas, Customer Journey Phases, Touch Points, Goals, Roles, Locations, Channels, Technology and the aspects from a SWOT analysis.

You can choose to model both a current state and a desired future state of the customer journey and use the documentation for process improvement. Below is an example of a current state model and a future state model:

Current state model:

Desired future model:

Other functionalities: The customer’s touchpoints can be elaborated upon with four scores for Customer Satisfaction, Customer Importance, Customer Effort and Net Promoter Score. Particularly vital touchpoints can be designated as a Moment of Truth.

Relation to other templates: The Customer Journey Map can be used as a groundwork for a strategic change, which for example can be modelled in a Work Model, a Business Capability Model and/or a Strategy Model.

Properties and metadata: The Customer Journey Map can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Link to the owner of the diagram
Link to the one responsible for the accuracy of the diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram
Project status: information about budgeted and actual man-hours spent, percentage completed and the latest milestone, result and quality control of a change process.

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Customer Journey Map, where you can view and edit the diagram’s properties.

For more information: on Customer Journey Mapping, please view our webinar Experience Mapping – Customer Obsession for IT and Digital Professionals with Milan Guenther and Katharina Weber.

CPM Diagram

Purpose: The Purpose of the Critical Path Method Diagram (CPM Diagram) is to reveal the critical path through a project, i.e. the list of activities that needs special attention since a delay in these activities will delay the whole project.

Core concerns: The CPM Diagram enables you to model Project Activities and connect them with Activity Paths. The Project Activities are then enriched with information about latest and earliest dates for start and finish as well as information about duration and slack for each Project Activity.

This makes it possible to calculate the probability of finishing the project within the planned timeframe, and to successively improve and detail the plan.

Below, you can see an example of a CPM Diagram about how to develop an organization to support a strategic change. It concerns the incoming and outgoing flow of employees as well as their training across several locations:

As you can see, the critical path is marked with red.

The following example is of a technology roadmap, where the critical path shows the three most critical project activities for on-time completion:

Other functionalities: A Calendar can be linked to the Property Dialog of the diagram showing holidays for the project.

Relation to other templates: The CPM Diagram template should be used after a project has been broken down into Project Activities. As such, it can be a decomposition of a Project Activity from a Business Canvas, Value Proposition, Work Model, Strategy Model or Innovation Canvas.

Properties and metadata: The CPM Diagram can for example retain the following information:

A description of the diagram
Link to owner
Link to responsible
Link to calendar
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the CPM diagram where you can view and edit the diagram’s properties in QualiWare Lifecycle Manager.

Control Coverage Map

Purpose: The purpose of the Control Coverage Map is to provide an overview of uncovered risks, residual risks and potential cost of the risk occurring.

Core concerns: The Control Coverage Map concerns itself with Financial Risk Management and is created using the Actions tabs in QLM. It can be created based on the information in a Risk Heatmap or by using information from a diagram which contains risks that also have control actions.

Below, you can see an example of a Control Coverage map for four risks related to a Bellhouse, a Pump, a Suction pipe and using Check lists:

The Blue column represents the likelihood of the risk before the control action, the green column represents the likelihood of the risk after the implementation of a control action. The red columns represent the estimated cost if the risk is realized.

Relation to other templates: The Control Coverage Map presents graphical views of information from other diagrams the same as the Heatmap, Business Charts and the Graphical Matrix. It can be used by any diagram containing Activities with attached risks that have control activities.

Properties and metadata: The Control Coverage Map can for example retain the following information:

A description
Link to the owner
Link to the one responsible
Graphical specification for the headers of the X-axis and Y-axis
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the Control Coverage Map

The above picture shows the properties dialogue window for the Control Coverage Map template where you can view and edit the template’s properties in QualiWare Lifecycle Manager.

Conceptual Data Model

Purpose: The Conceptual Data Model template is used to describe a high-level business oriented structure of the information concept used in a specific business area. Below yo can se an example of a Conceptual Data Model where the data is divided into data for internal and external use:

Core concerns: The conceptual data model template enables you to model a preliminary high level data model. It may be abstract in content and sparse in attributes. Its preliminary structure allows for many-to-many relationships. When using the Conceptual Data Model, you can model Information Concepts, Subject Areas, and their interrelationships. Below, you can see a car rental service’s Conceptual Data Model for a customer’s data.

Relation to other templates: The conceptual data model is a means of communicating information structures between participants in a project or documenting the overall Information Concept of a specific organization. For a more detailed model you should use a Data Model Diagram.

Properties and metadata: The Conceptual Data Model can for example retain the following metadata:

A description of the diagram
Link to the owner of the diagram
Link to the one responsible for the accuracy of the diagram
Audits (auto generated information regarding its current state and access rights)
Associated documents, diagrams and other objects
Inherent Risk detailing risk considerations
Governance information detailing information about the published diagram and who has been involved in the approval of the diagram
Project status: information about budgeted and actual man-hours spent, percentage completed and the latest milestone, result and quality control of a change process.

In the picture below you can see the Conceptual Data Model’s properties dialogue window, where the information can be viewed and edited: