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Enterprise Architecture Modeling Guidelines 3. Downwards: Towards its realization by other elements.
Fundamental Guidelines 4. Sideways: Towards peer elements with which it cooperates.
• A model has to provide answers to specific business, application, and/or
technology-related questions. Limiting the visual complexity of a model (Lankhorst, et al., 2017)
• Make a clear distinction between a model and its visualization. • Reduce the number of concepts in a model.
o Model – This is an explicit and intellectual conception of rea-life • Reduce the number of elements in the model.
aspects based on a clearly defined purpose. • Reduce the number of relations depicted in the model.
o Visualization – This pertains to the form in which a model is
presented. Gestalt Theory of Human Perception (Lankhorst, et al., 2017)
• Real-life aspects that are likely to change over time are often included in • Proximity – People have the tendency to relate objects that are near to
a model. As such, models must be dynamically designed. each other. Therefore, related objects should be placed near to each
• Be economical in models and views. Model only relevant concepts and other. The proximity rule also applies to colors, wherein objects with the
relations based on the given purpose of the model and the type of same color can indicate relationships between objects.
stakeholders. • Similarity – People have the tendency to perceive objects that are similar,
• Make concepts and structures recognizable. Incorporate concept names belong together as a unit. Also, objects with similar size are often
and structure types based on the usage of stakeholders. perceived as having the same or equal importance.
• Apply real-life concepts in denoting elements in a model. • Continuity – People have the tendency to perceive a line as continuous
• Create consistent models. Model similar relations in a similar manner. Use establishing directions, based on their perspective. Therefore, lines
the same terms to denote the same concepts, as well as related models. forming a right angle should not be positioned next to each other in a
• Keep abstraction levels consistent. model, to avoid confusion.
• Make models correct, accurate, and complete. • Closure – People have the tendency to perceive incomplete objects as
• Different concerns should be addressed in different parts of the model, or complete and asymmetric objects as symmetric. Symmetry and regularity
through related models. increase the readability of models and reduces perceived complexity.
• Select the design viewpoints that match the established objectives. • Common Fate – People have the tendency to perceive different objects
• Only include elements that directly contribute to the realization of the that move or function in a similar manner as a unit.
modeling objectives.
• Do not be afraid to abandon irrelevant elements that clutter a model. The Representation Conventions (Lankhorst, et al., 2017)
resulting model will contain less information, but holds more value for the • Use of Layouts – The layout aspects of a diagram include basic pattern,
stakeholders. horizontal and vertical alignment, above/before positioning, symmetry,
• Make a model as self- explanatory as possible. distance of objects, distribution and density objects and connectors.
• Separate internal and external behaviors. o Properly utilize white space.
• Collect feedback from various stakeholders. o Make a clear distinction between normal proceedings and exceptions.
o Apply symmetry to stress similarities.
• Use enterprise architecture layer and group by phase.
o Model time dependencies from left to right.
o Avoid crossing lines.
Guidelines for Readability and Usability of Models
The metaphorical direction in finding relevant elements (Lankhorst, et • Use of Symbols – The shapes of objects in a model usually match the
al., 2017) intrinsic properties of the real-life objects.
1. Inwards: Towards the internal composition of the elements. o Use similar shapes for similar concepts.
2. Upwards: Towards the elements that are supported by it. o Use line width to stress important relations.

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• Use of Colors – Color is a strong visual signal. It is a visual attribute that

is strongly influenced by "prior knowledge." It can also increase the appeal
of a diagram, but can also lead to contrary effects, such as confusion and
distraction.
o Use color for similarity.
o Use color to convey emotions.
o Limit the number of colors.S
• Use of Texts – Texts suggests proper interpretations, associations, and
stimulates thinking. It also speeds up the creation of a proper mental state
in modeling, while creating a good starting for the line of reasoning.
o Use domain-specific terminologies.
o Use appropriate naming conventions.

References:
Lankhorst, M., BiZZdesign, Enschede, & The Netherlands. (2017). Enterprise Architecture at
Work Modeling, Communication and Analysis (4th ed.). Berlin, Germany: Springer Nature

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