TL;DR
A Capability Assessment is both an assessment approach and a deliverable. In Phase A, it helps compare baseline and target capabilities so the architecture team understands gaps, readiness, and change impact before detailed design begins.
What It Is
A Capability Assessment examines whether an organization, function, or capability area can support the intended architecture change.
The assessment can focus on different levels:
- enterprise capability
- business capability
- IT function capability
- architecture function capability
- gaps between baseline and target capability levels
Because the focus can vary, the content of the assessment also varies.
Assessment Types
flowchart TD CA["Capability Assessment"] CA --> BC["Business Capability<br/>baseline state, future aspiration, organization impact"] CA --> IT["IT Capability<br/>maturity, capacity, operational change, organization impact"] CA --> AM["Architecture Maturity<br/>governance, reuse, skills, standards, reference models"] CA --> TR["Transformation Readiness<br/>readiness factors, ratings, risks"]
TOGAF templates commonly distinguish between four assessment focuses:
| Assessment focus | What it usually looks at |
|---|---|
| Business Capability Assessment | baseline state, future-state aspiration, performance, realization, and organizational impact |
| IT Capability Assessment | baseline and target maturity, level of change, operational processes, baseline capacity, and organizational impact |
| Architecture Maturity Assessment | architecture process, governance, reuse potential, architecture skills, landscape, standards, and reference models |
| Business Transformation Readiness Assessment | readiness factors, vision, current and target readiness ratings, and readiness risks |
The content may be combined into one assessment document or separated into independent assessment documents.
For the readiness-specific technique, see Transformation Readiness.
Where It Fits
In Phase A: Architecture Vision, the team may assess baseline and target capability levels for the enterprise or the specific area affected by the architecture work.
The assessment then supports later ADM phases:
- Phases B-D: understand capability gaps while defining business, data, application, and technology architectures
- Phases E-F: shape opportunities, solutions, transition states, and migration plans
- Phase G: guide implementation governance and conformance expectations
Exam note
- A Capability Assessment is both an approach and a deliverable.
- It can assess enterprise, business, IT, or architecture capability.
- It may focus on baseline and target capability gaps.
- Business Transformation Readiness Assessment is one type of capability-related assessment.
- In Phase A, it helps understand baseline and target capability levels before later phases use the findings in more detail.