Business architecture
On this page 9 topics
Overview
Topics
- Capabilities
- processes
- value streams
- stakeholders
Learn first
3.5 h of practice (estimate)
Learning outcomes
- Build a business capability map and assess each capability's maturity and strategic importance.
- Model value streams and the processes that realize them.
- Map stakeholders by influence and interest and identify their goals and concerns.
- Trace a proposed solution's components back to the capabilities and value streams they serve.
Lessons
Lab and exercises
Lab
ARC-002-LAB1 · Larkspur business architecture
Outcomes: 1–4 · Time: ~3.5 h
- From the case brief and interview notes, build the capability map: L1 domains and L2 capabilities, named consistently.
- Rate each capability for maturity and strategic importance with a one-line evidence note; produce the heat map.
- Model two value streams, order-to-delivery and return-to-refund, with stages, capabilities, and value added.
- Build the stakeholder map (influence and interest) with goals and concerns per stakeholder.
- Trace the proposed solution components to capabilities and stages.
- Present to role-played business owners and adjust.
Acceptance: role-played business owners agree the heat map reflects their pain points.
Exercises (case-based; six exercises)
| ID | Outcome | Task |
|---|---|---|
| ARC-002-EX01 | 1 | Convert this org chart (stores, e-commerce, finance, IT, customer service) into twelve capabilities with consistent names. |
| ARC-002-EX02 | 1 | Rate six Larkspur capabilities for maturity and importance and name the two top investment candidates. |
| ARC-002-EX03 | 2 | Draw the return-to-refund value stream with stages, capabilities, and the value each stage adds. |
| ARC-002-EX04 | 2 | A teammate has modeled order picking in 40 BPMN steps before agreeing the stream. Explain the problem and propose the next step. |
| ARC-002-EX05 | 3 | Plot ten Larkspur stakeholders on influence/interest and write the engagement approach for the three most critical. |
| ARC-002-EX06 | 4 | Trace "customer changes a pickup slot" to capabilities and components and list any gaps. |
Show solutions
- EX01 Examples: Manage Store Operations, Manage Customer Orders, Manage Inventory, Process Payments, Handle Customer Inquiries, Produce Management Reports. Capabilities are not departments.
- EX02 Investment candidates are those with high importance and low maturity, such as Inventory Visibility and Click-and-Collect Fulfillment, supported by evidence such as stock accuracy figures.
- EX03 Stages: Request return, Authorize, Receive item, Inspect, Refund, Restock. Capabilities include Customer Service, Returns Management, Payments, Inventory.
- EX04 Process detail was modeled before agreeing the value stream; step back, agree the stream and its stages, and detail only the processes that matter for the change.
- EX05 CFO: keep satisfied; head of e-commerce: manage closely; store managers: keep informed and involve early because they absorb change.
- EX06 Capabilities: Order Orchestration, Store Fulfillment, Customer Communication; components: order service, store app, notification service; gap: slot management has no current owner or system.
Outcomes 1 and 3 are also covered by the lab and the capability map defense.
Workplace evidence: a capability map or value-stream model used to scope a real initiative.
Quiz
Outcomes: O1 capability maps and maturity · O2 value streams and processes · O3 stakeholder mapping · O4 traceability to the solution.
A self-check for you: nothing is graded, saved or sent anywhere. Choose an answer, then check it. You can try again as often as you like.
Practical part
Capability map defense with the lab artifacts and exercises ARC-002-EX01 to EX06. Pass: quiz at least 8/10, at least five of six exercises correct, and role-played owners accepting the heat map.
Common mistakes
Capability maps that are org charts; processes modeled in detail before the value stream is agreed.
Assessment
Capability map defense.
Workplace evidence
A capability map or value-stream model used to scope a real initiative.
Career relevance
Basis for requirements discovery (ARC-003) and solution options (ARC-033).