| name | togaf-adm-skill |
| description | Use when configuring phases for a new EA engagement, starting or resuming a TOGAF ADM phase, asking about phase inputs/outputs, defining phase sequence/depth/artifacts, or progressing through any phase of the Architecture Development Method. |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"author":"Costa Pissaris","version":"1.0.0","created":"2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z","last_reviewed":"2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z","review_interval_days":90} |
TOGAF ADM
togaf-adm-skill guides EA engagements through the Architecture Development Method in two modes: configuration (planning which phases apply, their sequence, depth, and artifacts) and guidance (interactively executing each phase with the user). Configuration mode is invoked during ea-setup-skill or the Preliminary phase; guidance mode is invoked during delivery as the user progresses through selected phases.
Mode Selection
| Trigger | Mode |
|---|
| Called from ea-setup-skill or Preliminary phase | Configuration mode |
| User says "start phase X", "continue phase", "resume" | Guidance mode |
| User says "what do I need for Phase B?" | Guidance mode |
| No prior configuration exists | Configuration mode first, then Guidance mode |
Configuration Mode
Configuration mode produces a phases array for project.json. Work through the following steps one at a time, waiting for user input at each step before proceeding.
Step 1 — Architecture Principles
Present the default principles one at a time. For each, ask the user to confirm, modify, or skip. After all defaults, ask if they want to add any additional principles.
Default principles:
- Business-led
- Technology-agnostic
- Reuse before buy before build
- Security by design
- Cloud-first
Step 2 — Governance Model
Ask the following questions one at a time:
- Who approves architecture decisions?
- What is the review cadence (e.g. weekly, per phase, ad hoc)?
- Is there a formal architecture board?
Record answers for inclusion in the governance section of project.json.
Captured governance answers are stored in the governance object in project.json (alongside phases).
Step 3 — Phase Selection
Present all ADM phases and ask which apply to this engagement. Offer common patterns as shortcuts:
| Pattern | Phases |
|---|
| Full programme | Preliminary → A → B → C → D → E → F → G → H |
| Strategy engagement | A → B |
| Technology refresh | A → C → D → E → F |
| Governance only | G → H |
Ask: "Which pattern fits, or would you like to select phases individually?"
Note: Requirements Management is not a selectable phase — it runs continuously across all phases and is automatically included in every engagement. It does not appear in phases[] in project.json.
Step 4 — Sequence
Confirm the phase order with the user. Note that Phase B and Phase C can overlap — ask whether they should run concurrently or sequentially.
Step 5 — Depth per Phase
For each selected phase, ask the user to choose a depth level:
- Light — Key artifacts only, 1–2 interviews, no formal governance
- Standard — Priority artifacts, structured interviews, review checkpoint
- Full — All artifacts, formal governance, signed architecture contracts
Step 6 — Artifacts per Phase
For each selected phase and its chosen depth, present the default artifact list from togaf-artifacts-skill. Ask the user to:
- Confirm, add, or remove artifacts from the default list
- Optionally set a target completion date for each artifact
Step 7 — Phase Target Dates
For each selected phase, ask for an optional target completion date.
Configuration Output
Produce a phases array for project.json. Each phase entry must include:
{
"phase": "B",
"name": "Business Architecture",
"sequence": 2,
"depth": "Standard",
"status": "Not Started",
"progress": 0,
"targetDate": "2026-06-30",
"currentVersion": "1.0",
"versions": [],
"artifacts": [],
"nextAction": "Begin stakeholder interviews for business capability mapping"
}
The top-level project.json also includes a governance object alongside phases:
"governance": {
"approver": "string",
"reviewCadence": "string",
"hasArchitectureBoard": true
}
Guidance Mode
Guidance mode walks the user interactively through a selected phase. Load phase state from project.json before starting.
Executing a Phase
- Load phase state from
project.json.
- Check
project.json documents array for pre-extracted content mapped to this phase.
- Show phase summary:
- Purpose of the phase
- Progress % (artifacts complete vs. total)
- Next action
- For each incomplete artifact:
a. Show any pre-populated fields from uploaded documents.
b. Ask the user to confirm or override pre-populated values.
c. Use ea-interview-techniques-skill for remaining gap questions only — do not re-ask questions already answered by uploaded documents.
d. Generate the artifact via togaf-artifacts-skill.
e. Update artifact
status and progress in project.json.
- When all artifacts are complete:
- Run a phase checkpoint (summarise decisions, flag risks, confirm completeness).
- Mark phase
status as Complete.
- Advance
currentPhase in project.json to the next phase in sequence.
Resuming Mid-Phase
When the user resumes a phase already in progress:
- Read artifact statuses from
project.json.
- Skip artifacts with
status: Complete.
- Continue from the first artifact with
status: In Progress or Not Started.
- Open with: "Resuming Phase [X]. Completed: [artifact list]. Next: [artifact name]."
Adding a Document Mid-Engagement
If the user says "upload a document", "load this file", or similar at any point:
- Call ea-interview-techniques-skill in document ingestion mode.
- Extract and map content to phases and artifacts.
- Re-evaluate gap questions for the current phase and all remaining phases — remove questions now answered by the document.
Creating a New Phase Version
Triggered by: "redo Phase B", "new version of Phase A", or similar.
- Bump the phase
currentVersion (e.g. 1.0 → 2.0).
- Reset all artifact
status values to Not Started (preserve existing artifact files).
- Add an entry to the phase
versions[] array with the date and user-provided notes.
- Re-run guidance mode for the phase from Step 1.
ADM Phase Reference
Phase Map
┌─────────────────────┐
│ Preliminary │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Requirements Mgmt │ ← continuous across all phases
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase A: Vision │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase B: Business │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase C: Info Sys │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase D: Technology│
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase E: Opportun. │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase F: Migration │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase G: Governance│
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
┌──────────▼──────────┐
│ Phase H: Change │
└──────────┬──────────┘
│
(new cycle)
Quick Phase Selector
| Goal | Start with |
|---|
| New EA programme | Preliminary |
| Architecture engagement request | Phase A |
| Define business capabilities | Phase B |
| Map applications to business | Phase C |
| Define technology platform | Phase D |
| Plan implementation projects | Phase E |
| Build a roadmap | Phase F |
| Govern ongoing projects | Phase G |
| Manage architecture change | Phase H |
Phase Summary
| Phase | Purpose | Key Artifacts |
|---|
| Preliminary | Prepare the organisation for TOGAF adoption; establish governance and tailor the ADM | Architecture Principles Catalog, Governance Model |
| A — Architecture Vision | Define scope, stakeholders, and high-level vision; obtain approval to proceed | Stakeholder Map, Architecture Vision Document, Business Scenario, Statement of Architecture Work |
| B — Business Architecture | Develop baseline and target Business Architecture; identify gaps | Business Capability Map, Process Flow Diagram, Organisation/Actor Catalog, Business Interaction Matrix |
| C — Information Systems Architecture | Develop Data and Application Architectures; map applications to business functions | Data Entity Catalog, Application Portfolio Catalog, Application/Function Matrix, Data Flow Diagram |
| D — Technology Architecture | Define the technology platform supporting data and applications; set standards | Technology Portfolio Catalog, Technology Standards Catalog, System/Technology Matrix |
| E — Opportunities and Solutions | Identify implementation projects and work packages from gap analyses | Project Context Diagram, Benefits Diagram, Implementation Factor Assessment |
| F — Migration Planning | Develop a detailed Implementation and Migration Plan; prioritise and sequence projects | Architecture Roadmap (Gantt), Transition Architecture descriptions, Migration Plan |
| G — Implementation Governance | Ensure architecture conformance during implementation; manage contracts | Architecture Contract, Compliance Assessment, Implementation Governance Model |
| H — Architecture Change Management | Monitor architecture performance; assess and manage change requests | Architecture Change Request, Change Impact Assessment |
| Requirements Management | Continuously identify, store, and manage architecture requirements across all phases | Requirements Repository, Requirements Impact Assessment |
Full inputs and outputs per phase: see references/phase-inputs-outputs.md
TOGAF 10 vs TOGAF 9
- Restructured into five parts: Introduction & Core, ADM, ADM Guidelines & Techniques, Architecture Content, and Enterprise Architecture Capability & Governance.
- Updated Content Metamodel with a clearer class hierarchy and improved Architecture Repository classification.
- Strengthened guidance on agile integration and team-based architecture practice.
- New emphasis on Enterprise Architecture as an ongoing practice, not just a one-time process.