ArchiMate NEXT (Specification Snapshot 1) – Comprehensive Guide

Introduction: The Evolution of ArchiMate

ArchiMate NEXT (anticipated as ArchiMate 4.0) represents a transformative leap from ArchiMate 3.2, designed to simplify, unify, and modernize the enterprise architecture modeling language.
This version responds directly to contemporary challenges in enterprise modeling:

• The complexity and cognitive load of managing layered, hierarchical models

• The increasing hybrid nature of business operations (human + digital)

• The need for clearer alignment between strategy, operations, and change

By removing redundancies, redefining core concepts, and introducing a more intuitive visual framework, ArchiMate NEXT aims to make architecture accessible, actionable, and aligned with stakeholder expectations.

🔍 ArchiMate NEXT is not just an update—it’s a paradigm shift. It shifts from a rigid, top-down layering approach to a dynamic, modular, domain-based architecture that reflects the reality of today’s enterprises.

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🔷 1. The Visual Revolution: The Hexagonion Framework

🔄 From Layered Matrix to Hexagonal Architecture

The most visually striking change in ArchiMate NEXT is the replacement of the traditional rectangular, layered matrix with the Hexagonion Framework—a hexagonal structure that better reflects modern hybrid environments where humans, systems, and processes collaborate dynamically.

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🧩 Structure of the Hexagonion Framework

Section	Content	Strategic Purpose
Center Hub	Core building blocks: – Active Structure – Behavior – Passive Structure – Motivation (at absolute center)	Shows that stakeholder goals drive all architectural decisions. Motivation is the origin point of all modeling.
Top (Central Hexagon)	Business, Application, and Technology domains (now viewed as a single integrated operational domain)	Represents the enterprise’s operational core—where value is created and delivered.
Top Left & Right	Strategy & Motivation domains (e.g., goals, capabilities, requirements)	Enables modeling of enterprise vision, objectives, and long-term aspirations.
Bottom Left & Right	Implementation & Migration domains (e.g., projects, transitions, change management)	Supports modeling of change processes, roadmaps, and project lifecycles.

🎯 Key Insight: The Hexagonion moves away from “top-down” thinking and embraces a centered, goal-driven, process-oriented model where motivation flows outward through all domains.

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🔷 2. Unification: Breaking Down Layer Silos

ArchiMate NEXT replaces rigid layer boundaries with flexible Domains, eliminating redundancy and enabling cross-domain modeling. Several key elements have been unified into a domain-agnostic Common Domain.

Unified Element	Old Model	New Model
Behavior	Separate elements: Service, Process, Function, Event	Unified Behavior element (a generic “Process” can represent human actions, system workflows, or AI logic)
Collaboration	Layer-specific: Business, Application, Technology	Single Collaboration element in the Common Domain
Role	Business Role (only for humans), Application Role	Generic Role (assignable to any active structure – human, software, hardware)
Path	Path as a technology-specific construct	Now part of the Common Domain; represents a sequence of events, processes, or actions

✅ Benefit: A single “Process” can now model a workflow involving:

• A human agent

• A CRM system

• An AI validator

  —without needing to duplicate logic or create separate process types.

⚠️ Caution: In complex models, labels and descriptions become critical to distinguish between business and technical behaviors.

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🔷 3. Streamlining the Metamodel: Key Removals

To reduce cognitive load and eliminate redundant elements, ArchiMate NEXT removes or redefines several underutilized or overlapping concepts.

Element Removed	Replacement Strategy
Composition Relationship	Replaced by Aggregation or Assignment
Interaction Elements	Replaced by Collaboration or Service
Constraint	Replaced by a specialization of Requirement
Contract	Replaced by a specialization of Business Object
Gap	Replaced by Assessment or Deliverable
Representation	Replaced by Data Object, Artifact, or Material

🚀 Why? These elements were often used inconsistently or created unnecessary model bloat. Their removal ensures cleaner, more precise, and less ambiguous models.

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🔷 4. Metamodel Enhancements for Precision

While simplification is a core theme, ArchiMate NEXT also introduces powerful enhancements to improve model accuracy and expressiveness.

✅ 4.1 Cardinalities (Multiplicities)

• Relationships now support multiplicity constraints (e.g., 1..*, 0..1, 0..*)

• Example: A “Customer” may have one or more orders (1..*), or an “Order” may have zero or one delivery (0..1)

💡 This allows architects to define instance-level rules directly in the model—no need for external documentation.

✅ 4.2 Realization from Path

• Replaces the old “aggregation from Path to technology”

• New: Realization relationship from an Active Structure to a Path

🔄 Example: A “Customer Service Agent” realizes a “Customer Support Path” during a support session.

✅ 4.3 Standardized Visuals

• Introduction of standardized color codes:

  • Blue = Business (e.g., Process, Role)

  • Green = Application (e.g., Service, Function)

  • Red = Technology (e.g., Data, Hardware)

• Unified box notations for:

  • Meaning (what it represents)

  • Value (its business impact)

  • Business Object (what it is)

🎨 These standardizations improve readability, especially in cross-functional presentations.

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🔷 5. Guidance: Core vs. Full Framework

To support different use cases, ArchiMate NEXT introduces two modeling levels:

Framework	Scope	Use Case
Core Framework	Covers the Common, Business, Application, and Technology domains	Modeling steady-state operations, system “at rest”, or current enterprise state
Full Framework	Adds Motivation, Strategy, and Implementation & Migration domains	Modeling strategic change, roadmaps, goal alignment, and project transitions

📌 Best Practice:

• Use Core Framework for operational modeling

• Use Full Framework when modeling change, strategy, or future-state roadmaps

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🔷 6. Migration and Backward Compatibility

The Open Group has prioritized smooth migration from ArchiMate 3.2 to NEXT.

✅ Migration Strategy

• No major language changes in semantics

• Most elements are replaced with generic equivalents:

  • Implementation Event → Event (generic)

  • Business Role → Role (generic)

  • Application Event → Event within Behavior

• Existing models can be restructured with minimal effort

🔄 Migration Steps

1. Identify all removed or renamed elements

2. Replace them with their generic counterparts

3. Update labels and descriptions to reflect domain context

4. Verify cardinalities and relationships for precision

5. Re-visualize using the Hexagonion Framework

🏁 Existing ArchiMate 3.2 models can be directly transitioned with little to no rework—making this update highly practical for enterprise-wide adoption.

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🔷 7. Practitioner Perspective & Critique

✅ Strengths

• Simplified communication between business, IT, and stakeholders

• Improved clarity in hybrid environments (human + digital workflows)

• Reduced model bloat and cognitive load

• Better alignment with modern agile, DevOps, and digital transformation practices

⚠️ Criticisms & Considerations

Concern	Explanation
Loss of Precision in Complex Models	Merging domains may obscure distinctions between business logic and technical implementation. Modelers must rely more on labels, descriptions, and context to maintain clarity.
Need for Improved Labeling	Without clear labeling, unified elements (e.g., Process, Role) may be misinterpreted. Best practice: annotate every element with domain context.
Serving Relationship Management	The service relationship between an interface and an internal active structure (e.g., a service provided by a software component) requires careful modeling to avoid ambiguity. Use clear labels and contextual descriptions.
Potential for Over-Abstraction	In highly technical environments, the removal of layer-specific elements may result in models that lack the depth needed for detailed system design.

🛠️ Recommendation for Practitioners:

• Use Core Framework for day-to-day operations

• Use Full Framework for strategic planning and change initiatives

• Always include descriptive labels and contextual notes in complex models

• Validate models with stakeholders to ensure clarity and alignment

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📚 Summary Table: Key Changes in ArchiMate NEXT

Feature	ArchiMate 3.2	ArchiMate NEXT
Visual Framework	Rectangular, layered matrix	Hexagonion (hexagonal, centered)
Core Concept	Layers (Business, Application, Technology)	Domains (Common, Business, Application, Technology)
Behavior	Separate elements (Process, Service, Function)	Unified Behavior
Collaboration	Layer-specific	Single Collaboration
Role	Business Role only	Generic Role
Path	Technology-specific	Part of Common Domain
Removed Elements	Composition, Constraint, Gap, Contract, Representation	Removed or replaced
Cardinalities	Not supported	Supported (e.g., 1..*)
Color Coding	None standard	Standardized (Blue, Green, Red)
Motivation	Implicit	Explicitly placed at center
Framework Levels	Single model	Core & Full Framework

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🚀 Final Thoughts: Why ArchiMate NEXT Matters

ArchiMate NEXT is not just a technical update—it’s a philosophical shift in how we think about enterprise architecture.

❌ Past models assumed a clear separation between business and IT.
✅ ArchiMate NEXT embraces integration, collaboration, and shared value.

By simplifying the language, unifying domains, and centering motivation, it enables architects to:

• Build clearer, more communicable models

• Focus on value delivery and stakeholder goals

• Model real-world hybrid systems more effectively

• Support digital transformation with agility and precision

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✅ Getting Started: A Practical Roadmap

Step	Action
1	Review your current ArchiMate 3.2 models for layer-specific elements
2	Identify elements to replace (e.g., “Implementation Event”, “Business Role”)
3	Replace with generic equivalents (e.g., “Event”, “Role”)
4	Reconstruct models using the Hexagonion Framework
5	Add labels and descriptions to clarify domain context
6	Validate with stakeholders using the Core or Full Framework as appropriate
7	Document change in your modeling process and training materials

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📎 Resources

• Official Specification Snapshot 1 – ArchiMate.org

• Training Videos & Workshops – Available via ArchiMate Academy

• Community Forums & Feedback – ArchiMate Community

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💬 Final Quote

“ArchiMate NEXT does not replace architecture—it refines it. It brings the language of enterprise modeling into the 21st century: simpler, more human-centered, and deeply aligned with real-world operations.”
— ArchiMate Working Group, Open Group