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  1. OMG Issue

UAF13 — Incorrect Inclusion of UAF Architecture Viewpoints in an AD. Inconsistent and Incorrect Definition of 'Concern'. A StrategicPhase is Not a System

  • Key: UAF13-152
  • Status: open  
  • Source: Eclectica Systems Ltd ( Nic Plum)
  • Summary:

    4.1.3 Architectural Description Structure p26 states:

    'Each architectural description is either decomposed into, or synthesizes, views and viewpoints, which may be laid out in dashboards and other fit-for-purpose perspectives to aid in understanding an architectural plan. Each planned viewpoint should address specific concerns held by relevant stakeholders'

    1) Simply 'decomposes into or synthesizes' to 'formed from' - the aim should be to have as short a document and as short as sentences as possible.
    2) 'decomposes into ... viewpoints' is incorrect for the UAF. Users are not going to include the UAF viewpoints in each of their architecture descriptions. Even in ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 where it got less clear in the 2022 edition owing to removal of multiplicities the inclusion of architecture viewpoints is a 'may' not 'shall'
    3) What's a 'planned viewpoint' ? Architecture Viewpoints don't address concerns - iaw ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 they frame concerns. It is not 'should' - Architecture Viewpoints always frame at least one Concern - mandatory i.e. don't misquote the standard. In following the guide the user should reasonably expect to conform to the standard. This process step seems to be the inverse of what the standard says - you first establish what the architecture description task stakeholders concerns are, then you select the architecture viewpoints that most closely frame those concerns.

    Later on we have:

    'Concern – interest in a Strategic Phase (Strategic Phase is synonym for System in ISO 42010) relevant to one or more of its stakeholders. (Note: a concern may be a “matter of relevance or importance to a stakeholder regarding an entity of interest” [ISO 42010] that will be addressed in an architecture)'

    4) A Concern is not an interest in a Strategic Phase. In ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 it's 'matter of relevance or importance to a stakeholder'. In the DMM p131 it's 'A matter of relevance or importance to a stakeholder regarding an entity of interest.' which is more restrictive that the standard - you can only raise a concern about the entity of interest. It's definitely NOT 'interest in a Strategic Phase'. Suggest that you adopt the ISO definition consistently and without additions.
    5) Strategic Phase is NOT a synonym for System in ISO 42010 - a duration or time period is not equivalent to a System
    6) a Concern is addressed in an 'architecture description' NOT 'architecture' via the content of the architecture views produced.

  • Reported: UAF 1.2 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:26 GMT
  • Updated: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:51 GMT