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Organizing Architecture Diagrams for an Architecture Document

To effectively structure architecture diagrams within an Architecture Document, we need to align diagrams with relevant document sections while ensuring a logical progression from business to technical layers.

This post organizes diagrams into two perspectives:

  • Section-wise placement – Ensures each section of the architecture document has relevant diagrams.

  • Layer-wise classification – Aligns diagrams with Business, Application, Technology, and Security layers, making it easier to understand dependencies.

Section-wise List of Diagrams (Mapped to Architecture Document)

Each section of the architecture document will include one or more diagrams that enhance clarity and visualization.

1. Introduction

No diagrams required – This section provides background information.

2. General Description

2.1. Brief Functional Description

  • Capability Model (ArchiMate) – Defines the business capabilities required (e.g., Task Management, User Management, Reporting).

  • Business Role & Actor View (ArchiMate) – Maps user roles (e.g., Task Creator, Assignee, Admin) to business functions.

2.2. Brief Technical Description

  • System Context Diagram (UML) – Shows how the system interacts with users and external systems (APIs, email services, authentication providers).

3. Non-Functional Requirements

3.4. Expected Quality of Service

  • Implementation & Migration View (ArchiMate) – Defines failover mechanisms, backup strategies, and uptime goals.

3.5. Security

  • Security View (ArchiMate) – Illustrates Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), OAuth Authentication, and Single Sign-On (SSO).

4. Logical Architecture

4.1. Overall structure

  • Functional Decomposition Diagram (ArchiMate) – Breaks the system into high-level functional modules (Task Creation, Assignment, Reporting).

  • Application Structure View (ArchiMate) – Shows major system components (Frontend, Backend, APIs, DB).

4.2. Components Identification

  • Component Diagram (UML) – Defines the main system modules (UI, Task Management Service, Notification Service, Authentication Service).

4.3. Instances Identification

  • Deployment Diagram (UML) – Shows how system components are deployed in different environments (Dev, Staging, Production).

5. Technical Architecture

5.1. Overall structure

  • Technology Usage View (ArchiMate) – Identifies technologies used in different layers (Frontend: React, Backend: Spring Boot, Database: PostgreSQL).

5.3. Description of Technical Components

  • Application Collaboration View (ArchiMate) – Shows interactions between internal & external services (e.g., TMS integrating with Email/Notification).

6. Physical Architecture

6.1. Instances Sizing

  • Infrastructure View (ArchiMate) – Represents how physical resources (servers, storage, network) are allocated per environment (Dev, Staging, Prod).

6.2. Environments Summary

  • No diagram required – A structured table with sizing details is sufficient.

7. Hardware Infrastructures Definition

7.3. Networking Infrastructure

  • Network Topology Diagram (Standard Networking Diagram) – Illustrates firewalls, VPNs, load balancers, and API gateways.

7.4. Data Storage Infrastructure

  • Storage Internal Architecture (ArchiMate) – Represents data storage mechanisms (DB, Object Storage, File System, Backups).

7.5. Hosting & Services

  • Cloud Deployment Diagram (ArchiMate/UML) – Maps containerized deployment (Kubernetes, Docker, EC2, Azure VMs, Google Cloud Run).

9. IS Integration

9.1. General Integration Diagram

  • Integration View (ArchiMate) – Shows TMS integration with external systems (Email, Calendar, Identity Provider, APIs).

9.3. External Interfaces Summary

  • No diagram required – A structured API integration table is recommended.

10. Security

10.1. Access Management

  • Security View (ArchiMate) – Defines user authentication, authorization, RBAC, API security policies.

10.3. Traffic Encryption

  • Security Architecture Diagram (ArchiMate) – Illustrates data encryption layers, SSL/TLS, and secure API communication.

12. Operations

12.5. Disaster Recovery Plan

  • Implementation & Migration View (ArchiMate) – Defines failover strategies, backup restoration procedures.

Layer-wise Organization of Architecture Diagrams

Instead of focusing on document sections, this categorization groups diagrams into Business, Application, Technology, and Security layers, which makes it easier to analyze dependencies across different architectural perspectives.

1️⃣ Business Layer Views (High-Level Business Context)

✅ Capability Model (ArchiMate)
✅ Value Stream Mapping (ArchiMate)
✅ Business Process View (ArchiMate)
✅ Business Role & Actor View (ArchiMate)

📍 Relevant Architecture Document Sections:

  • 2.1. Brief Functional Description

  • 2.1.1. System in Context

  • 2.1.2. High-Level Functional Breakdown

2️⃣ Application Layer Views (System & Software Interactions)

✅ Functional Decomposition View (ArchiMate)
✅ Application Structure View (ArchiMate)
✅ Application Collaboration View (ArchiMate)
✅ Application Usage View (ArchiMate)

📍 Relevant Architecture Document Sections:

  • 4.1. Overall structure

  • 4.2. Components Identification

  • 5.1. Global structure

  • 5.3. Description of Technical Components

3️⃣ Technology Layer Views (Infrastructure & Deployment)

✅ Infrastructure View (ArchiMate)
✅ Technology Usage View (ArchiMate)
✅ Physical Infrastructure View (ArchiMate)
✅ Technology & Application View (ArchiMate)

📍 Relevant Architecture Document Sections:

  • 6.1. Instances Sizing

  • 7.1. Cloud Infrastructure

  • 7.3. Networking Infrastructure

  • 7.4. Data Storage Infrastructure

4️⃣ Cross-Layer & Security Views

✅ Security View (ArchiMate)
✅ Integration View (ArchiMate)
✅ Network Security & Traffic Flow View (Standard Network Diagram)
✅ Implementation & Migration View (ArchiMate)

📍 Relevant Architecture Document Sections:

  • 9.1. General Integration Diagram

  • 10.1. Access Management

  • 10.3. Traffic Encryption

  • 12.5. Disaster Recovery Plan

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