The OV-7 addresses the information modelling perspective of an operational architecture. The OV-7 is used to document the business information requirements of the enterprise. It describes the information that is associated with the information exchanges specified in OV-3, Information Exchange Matrix. An OV-7 defines a logical data model consisting of entities, attributes and relationships. The entities in the model define the structure of information elements that are exchanged between nodes.
Usage
The intended usage of the OV-7 includes:
- Information architecture.
- Logical data modelling.
Product Description
The OV-7 describes the logical data model for the architecture. It provides a definition of information types (entities), their attributes or characteristics, and their interrelationships.
Note that MODAF refers to ‘information’ in the Operational Viewpoint and ‘data’ in the System Viewpoint. The intention of this is that OV-7 describes information of importance to the business (e.g. information products that might be referred to in doctrine, SOPs etc.) whereas SV-11 describes data relevant at the system level.
OV-7 defines each kind of information class associated with the architecture domain, mission, or business as its own entity, with its associated attributes and relationships. These entity definitions specify the structure of OV-3 information.
Creating an Information Model
To create an Information Model:
- Click on Information Model in the Action Artifact area, and then select Create New Diagram.
- Type the diagram name and press Enter.
- A blank diagram is created and you can start constructing the view. You can create InformationElements and connect them with Associations using the tools under the diagram toolbar.
MODAF in Visual Paradigm
The MODAF is brought to you by Visual Paradigm, a full-featured development platform. Visual Paradigm provides an easy-to-use, model-driven MODAF tool that supports the development of MODAF views and models. You can create integrated MODAF products and generate architectural documents that facilitate organizations to efficiently coordinate enterprise architecture initiatives.