Summary Comparison: Orthogramic and BIZBOK
This page provides a high-level comparison between the Orthogramic Metamodel and the Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK). Both frameworks serve the business architecture community, with different approaches suited to different organizational needs.
Overview
About BIZBOK
The Business Architecture Body of Knowledge (BIZBOK) is maintained by the Business Architecture Guild and has served as a foundational reference for business architecture practitioners since its inception. It provides:
- A common vocabulary for business architecture
- Guidance on core concepts (capabilities, value streams, information, organization)
- Best practices developed by experienced practitioners
- A certification pathway for business architects
About the Orthogramic Metamodel
The Orthogramic Metamodel is an open-source, schema-first approach to business architecture that extends traditional concepts with:
- Formal JSON Schema definitions for all domains
- Broader domain coverage for modern enterprise needs
- Built-in support for automation and integration
- Extensions for strategic response, cross-domain relationships, and interoperability
Comparison Summary
| Dimension | Orthogramic Metamodel | BIZBOK |
|---|---|---|
| Access Model | Open source (CC BY-SA 4.0) | Membership-based |
| Format | Schema-defined (JSON) | Narrative guidance |
| Domain Count | 24 domains | 4 core domains + extensions |
| Primary Focus | Automation and integration | Practice guidance |
| Extension Model | Schema augmentation | Community updates |
| Tool Integration | API-first design | Tool-agnostic |
Complementary Strengths
The two frameworks have complementary strengths that practitioners can leverage:
BIZBOK Strengths
- Established community — Large practitioner network and knowledge sharing
- Certification program — Professional recognition pathway
- Proven practices — Battle-tested approaches from diverse industries
- Strategic focus — Strong emphasis on strategy-capability alignment
Orthogramic Strengths
- Schema rigor — Formal definitions enable tooling and automation
- Broader coverage — Additional domains for modern enterprise needs
- Open access — No barriers to adoption or contribution
- Integration focus — Designed for data platforms and enterprise tools
When to Use Each
| Scenario | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Learning business architecture fundamentals | BIZBOK provides excellent foundational guidance |
| Building automated architecture tools | Orthogramic's schemas enable direct implementation |
| Seeking professional certification | BIZBOK offers the CBA® certification pathway |
| Integrating with data catalogs | Orthogramic's API-first design simplifies integration |
| Establishing practice within organization | Both frameworks provide valuable guidance |
| Modeling complex cross-enterprise scenarios | Orthogramic's extensions support federated modeling |
Using Both Together
Many organizations find value in using both frameworks:
- Start with BIZBOK concepts — Learn the fundamentals of capability mapping, value streams, and strategic alignment
- Apply Orthogramic schemas — Implement the concepts using formal, machine-readable definitions
- Extend as needed — Use Orthogramic's extension model to address organization-specific needs
- Maintain alignment — Keep terminology consistent using the concept mapping below
Concept Mapping
For practitioners familiar with BIZBOK, this mapping shows how concepts translate:
| BIZBOK Concept | Orthogramic Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capability | Capabilities Domain | Extended with components, functions, processes |
| Value Stream | Value Stream Domain | Extended with stage-level detail |
| Information | Information Domain | Enhanced data governance attributes |
| Organization | Organization Domain | Richer organizational metadata |
| Stakeholder | Stakeholder Domain | Detailed engagement modeling |
| Strategy | Strategy Domain | Includes objectives, KPIs, dependencies |
| Initiative | Initiatives Domain | Full program/project lifecycle |
| Product | Products Domain | Distinct from Services |
| Service | Services Domain | Detailed service attributes |
| Policy | Policy Domain | Formalized compliance modeling |
Strategic Response Model
One significant extension in Orthogramic is the Strategic Response Model, which provides structured tracing from triggers through rationales to responses:
| BIZBOK Approach | Orthogramic Extension |
|---|---|
| Scenario planning as narrative exercise | Trigger schema with categorization |
| Strategic alignment through capability mapping | Rationale schema linking triggers to responses |
| Initiative tracking | Response chain across domains |
| KPI measurement | Performance indicators with targets and thresholds |
This extension enables organizations to maintain full traceability from external events to organizational responses.
Licensing Considerations
| Aspect | Orthogramic | BIZBOK |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Open to all | Guild membership |
| Commercial use | Permitted with attribution | Per license terms |
| Modifications | Permitted under same license | Not permitted |
| Contributions | Open contribution model | Guild-managed |
Both licensing models serve their respective communities effectively. Organizations should choose based on their specific needs and constraints.
Learn More
- Detailed Comparison — Technical comparison by domain
- What Orthogramic Adds — Additional capabilities
- Licensing Details — Full licensing comparison
- Evolution of Business Architecture — Industry context
The Orthogramic project acknowledges the foundational contributions of BIZBOK and the Business Architecture Guild to the business architecture discipline.