Zachman Framework

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Zachman's framework for information systems architecture - first proposed in 1987 and later extended in 1992 - is a widely used approach for developing and/or documenting an enterprise-wide information systems architecture. Zachman based his framework on practices in traditional architecture and engineering.

The framework provides the necessary detailed, complete, and robust view of the enterprise information architecture. It provides for six increasingly detailed levels of or views of all three architectures (data, process & technology).

The purpose of the framework is to provide a basic structure which supports the organization, access, integration, interpretation, development, management, and changing of a set of architectural representations of the organizations information systems.

The framework can contain global plans as well as technical details, lists and charts as well as natural language statements. Any appropriate approach, standard, role, method, technique, or tool may be placed in it. In fact, the framework can be viewed as a tool to organize any form of meta-data for the enterprise.

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