From the requirements follow that design decisions on the Generic Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology must address all components and their combination: architecture, methodology, modelling language and generic models/modules. It also follows that it should be permitted for a multitude of methodologies to exist - some competing - while the reference framework allows this competition to occur on common grounds.
Through the combination of the dimensions along which the
PERA, GIM, and CIM-OSA architectures divide
concerns of the enterprise life-cycle
the authors developed and contributed to [2]
a matrix representation of the enterprise life-cycle model;
this model was further improved
, by expanding
it with the identification- and concept- as
well as build- and operate-
phases of the enterprise life-cycle.
The matrix there developed described the life-cycle of the enterprise and mapped on it the three investigated architectures (PERA, GIM, and CIM-OSA) to compare their coverage. This matrix can be thought of as a generalisation of the CIM-OSA cube or as a CIM-OSA-cube-like presentation of the PERA two-tiered diagram or of GIM.
However, as shown here, the matrix is capable of describing the life-cycle of any other entity covering generic, partial and particular models/descriptions of that entity. These models/descriptions are the ones that should (or may) be produced during the entity's life-cycle.
Before presenting how the idea of the matrix can be utilised for the design of the Generic Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology a brief presentation of some technical details is necessary.
