DODAF - DOD Architecture Framework Version 2.02 - DOD Deputy Chief Information Officer

DoDAF Viewpoints and Models

Standards Viewpoint

StdV-2: Standards Forecast

The StdV-2 contains expected changes in technology-related standards, operational standards, or business standards and conventions, which are documented in the StdV-1 model. The forecast for evolutionary changes in the standards need to be correlated against the time periods mentioned in the SV-8 Systems Evolution Description, SvcV-8 Services Evolution Description, SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast, and SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast models.

A StdV-2 is a detailed description of emerging standards relevant to the systems, operational, and business activities covered by the Architectural Description. The forecast should be tailored to focus on areas that are related to the purpose for which a given Architectural Description is being built, and should identify issues that affect the architecture. A StdV-2 complements and expands on the StdV-1Standards Profile model and should be used when more than one emerging standard time-period is applicable to the architecture.

One of the prime purposes of this model is to identify critical technology standards, their fragility, and the impact of these standards on the future development and maintainability of the architecture and its constituent elements.

The intended usage of the StdV-2 includes:

  • Forecasting future changes in standards (informing project strategy).

Detailed Description:

The Standards Forecast DoDAF-described Model contains expected changes in standards and conventions, which are documented in the StdV-1 model. The forecast for evolutionary changes in the standards need to be correlated against the time periods mentioned in the SV-8 Systems Evolution Description, SvcV-8 Services Evolution Description, SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast, and SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast models. One of the prime purposes of this model is to identify critical standards, their life expectancy, and the impact of these standards on the future development and maintainability of the Architectural Description and its constituent elements.

StdV-2 lists emerging or evolving standards relevant to the solutions covered by the Architectural Description. It contains predictions about the availability of emerging standards, and relates these predictions to the elements and the time periods that are listed in the SV-8 Systems Evolution Description, SvcV-8 Services Evolution Description, SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast, and SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast models.

The specific time periods selected (e.g., 6-month and 12-month intervals) and the standards being tracked are coordinated with architecture transition plans (which the SV-8 Systems Evolution Description and SvcV-8 Services Evolution Description can support). That is, insertion of new capabilities and upgrading of existing solutions may depend on, or be driven by, the availability of new standards and models incorporating those standards. The forecast specifies potential standards and thus impacts current architectures and influences the development of transition and objective (i.e., target) architectures. The forecast is tailored to focus on standards areas that are related to the purpose for which a given architecture is being described and should identify potential standards affecting that architecture. If interface standards are an integral part of the technologies important to the evolution of a given architecture, then it may be convenient to combine StdV-2 with SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast or SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast into a composite Fit-for-Purpose View. For other projects, it may be convenient to combine all the standards information into one composite Fit-for-Purpose View, combining StdV-2 with StdV-1 Standard Profile.

StdV-2 delineates the standards that potentially impact the relevant system and service elements (from SV-1 Systems Interface Description, SV-2 Systems Resource Flow Description, SV-4 Systems Functionality Description, SV-6 Systems Resource Flow Matrix, SvcV-1 Services Context Description, SvcV-2 Services Resource Flow Description, SvcV-4 Services Functionality Description, SV-6 Services Resource Flow Matrix, and DIV-2 Logical Data Model) and relates them to the time periods that are listed in the SV-8 Systems Evolution Description, SvcV-8 Services Evolution Description, SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast, and SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast models. A system's evolution, specified in SV-8 Systems Evolution Description, or service's evolutions, specified in SvcV-8 Services Evolution Description, may be tied to a future standard listed in StdV-2. A timed technology and skills forecast from SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast or SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast models is related to StdV-2 standards forecast in the following manner: a certain technology may be dependent on a StdV-2 standard (i.e., a standard listed in StdV-2 may not be adopted until a certain technology becomes available). This is how a prediction on the adoption of a future standard, may be related to standards listed in StdV-1 through the SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast or SvcV-9 Services Technology & Skills Forecast models.