An  Application is a Business Software System that provides a set of  Functionality(ies) that End Users see as a single unit.

Essentially  Applications are architectural constructions resulting from the combinaison of the following four criteria:

1) A group of  Functionality that End Users see as a single unit.

2) A managed asset (Managed Application) associated with a budget line in the context of an Application Portfolio.

3) A body of code that is seen by developers as a single unit.

4) A group of deployable software units (Deployable Application Packages) that must be installed together on one or multiple execution nodes (Computing System).

 Application is a Mezzo enterprise asset  that sits between Application System and Application Component in the decomposition of Business Software Systems.

Example: " Payroll" is an  Application that is part an " HR System" which is an Application System.

The "Payroll"  Application includes, among other things, the "Salary and Wage Calculation" Application Component.

A  Business Function is a Mezzo unit within the enterprise's functional division of labor. It is used to shape the enterprise management structure in regard to how it produces, consumes or processes Business Outcome Events: information, energy, materiel.

A  Business Function specifies Skills and  Functionality(ies) required to perform their activities effectively.

A  Computer Network is an assembly of Network Devices (e.g. routers, switches, firewalls) that enables communications between Computing Systems (e.g. Computer Servers).

A  Computer Network may breakdown into sub-networks.

A  Concept Domain is a subset of the Concepts of a  Business Dictionary that are relevant to an Operating Domain.

For instance, a "Sales Concept Domain" comprises at least the Concepts of "Customer" and "Order" while a standard "Marketing Concept Domain" comprises at least the Concepts of "Market Segment", "Product" and "Value Proposition".

A  Department is a Mezzo Organization. It is a an administrative unit in government or business.

Examples:

- Sales department of "Aircraft corporation" in France;

- Finance department of "Oakland digital hospital";

- Logistics Department of "APPCo retail inc".

A  Department Type is a Mezzo Org-Unit which serves as an administrative unit template in both government and business Organizations.

Examples:

- Sales department;

- Finance department;

- Logistics department..

A  Facility is a class of System of Resources that represents the physical infrastructure (e.g., buildings, plants, warehouses, offices, or laboratories) that houses personnel, equipment, and processes, enabling enterprise's activities.

Examples:

- Data Center

- Factory

- Outlet

- Outdoors construction

A  Hardware Configuration is a Mezzo Concrete Hardware System that is an assembly of Hardware Equipments.

Examples:

- Connected Drone with Online Payment App.

- 3D printer.

- Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

- Connected fridge providing an ordering Functionality and of course a freezing Hardware Capability.

- Production equipment in an assembly line (metal forging machine)

- Car

A  Hardware Technology is an elementary Technology System  used as an enabler by Concrete Hardware Systems (as Required Hardware Technology).

 Hardware Technologys fulfill  Hardware Technology Capabilitys.

Examples:

- Oxford Anor Spectrographs (NMR).

- Spectral Data Services (NMR).

- Valeo Powertrain Systems.

- Joyson Electronics Powertrain Systems.

A  NoSQL Data Schema represents a set of data stored in a NOSQL database management system and used in Application Deployment Architectures.

A  Relational Schema is a set of relational Table , keys, indexes and associated items that represent the structure of a relational database. A relational database can have multiple schemas.

A  Resource Configuration is a generic class of System of Resources that represents System of Resources that are not Facilitys.(Data centers, Factories, Outlets).

Examples:

- Configured Nuclear power plant (with operating teams), 

- Configured aircraft carrier (with crew), Configured rescue ship (with rescue team).

When specific characteristics need to be considered for a given type of  Resource Configuration, it is recommended to create a new sub-type of System of Resources to host these characteristics.

A  Software Technology is an elementary Software Technology System  used as an enabler by Software Modules.

Examples :

- Application server,

- Message server,

- Storage,

- Business information sharing,

- Operating systems,

- Navigators, etc

A  System Process is a Action Process that occurs inside Business Systems (software systems or hardware systems). Its performers can only be Business Software Systems or Concrete Hardware Systems.

During its course of action, a  System Process consumes or produces Data Assets:

1) It may memorize or access Data Assets in its Process Store.

2) It may receive Data Assets at its boundary: Consumed Outcome.

3) It may signal the production of Data Assets at its boundary: Delivered Outcome.

The course of actions of a  System Process is constrained by the application of rules ( System Rule Enforcement) that define what is allowed and not allowed to do.

A  Technology Process is a  Action Process that describes a typical course of action intended to produce Technology Outcome Events, through the involvement of Technology Systems (System Participant).

During its course of action, a  Technology Process consumes or produces  Technology Objects:

1) It may memorize or access  Technology Objects from and to its Process Stores.

2) It may receive  Technology Objects at its boundary: Triggering Technology Outcome Events.

3) It may signal the production of  Technology Objects at its boundary: Produced Technology Outcome Events.

The course of actions of a  Technology Process is constrained by the application of rules (Operating Rule Enforcement) that define what is allowed and not allowed to do.

 Value Streams are used to frame the Conceptual Operating Model of the enterprise: they describe how the enterprise shall operate, at the conceptual level, and helps chunking responsibilities between Conceptual Agents (Operating Domain or Business Function) .

In the EA context, a  Value Stream is a conceptual Action Process that represents an overarching perspective of the organization's processes aiming at producing Conceptual Outcome Events. The focus is on shaping and understanding the functional relationships and roles within the enterprise : its functional division of labor.

This is not to be confused with Value Stream Mapping (VSM) which is focused on Lean optimization and is addressed with the concept of  Business Process (see the Organization & Processes domain).

A  Value Stream is performed by Conceptual Agents who produce Conceptual Outcome Events. It is depicted as a sequence of Value Stream Stages, controlled by events and conditions.

 Value Stream Activitys are carried out by the involvment of Conceptual Agents as participants in the  Value Stream.

During its course of action, a  Value Stream consumes, produces or stores  Business Objects.

1) It may read or write Domain Assets in its Business Object Store.

2) It may receive Domain Assets at its boundary:  reacted to Business Outcome Events.

3) It may produce Domain Assets at its boundary:  produced Business Outcome Events.

The course of actions of a  Value Stream is constrained by the application of rules ( Conceptual Rule Enforcement) that define what is allowed and not allowed to do.

There are traditionnaly two kinds of  Value Streams:

1) Development development  Value Streams define all of the actions, both value-creating and nonvalue-creating, required to bring a Product from concept to launch.
2)  Operational  Value Streams define define all of the actions, both value-creating and nonvalue-creating, required from order to delivery. These include actions to process information from the  Customer and actions to transform the product on its way to the Customer.