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

DoDAF Viewpoints and Models

Systems Viewpoint

SV-6: Systems Resource Flow Matrix

The SV-6 specifies the characteristics of the System Resource Flows exchanged between systems with emphasis on resources crossing the system boundary.

The SV-6 focuses on the specific aspects of the system Resource Flow and the system Resource Flow content in a tabular format.

The intended usage of the SV-6 includes:

  • Detailed definition of Resource Flows.

Detailed Description:

The SV-6 specifies the characteristics of Resource Flow exchanges between systems. The SV-6 is the physical equivalent of the logical OV-3 table and provides detailed information on the system connections which implement the Resource Flow exchanges specified in OV-3. Non-automated Resource Flow exchanges, such as verbal orders, are also captured.

System Resource Flow exchanges express the relationship across the three basic architectural data elements of a SV (systems, system functions, and system Resource Flows) and focus on the specific aspects of the System Resource Flow and the system resource content. These aspects of the System Resource Flow exchange can be crucial to the operational mission and are critical to understanding the potential for overhead and constraints introduced by the physical aspects of the implementation such as security policy and communications limitations.

The focus of SV-6 is on how the System Resource Flow exchange is affected, in system-specific details covering periodicity, timeliness, throughput, size, information assurance, and security characteristics of the resource exchange. In addition, the System Resource Flow elements, their format and media type, accuracy, units of measurement, and system data standard are also described in the matrix.

Modeling discipline is needed to ensure that the architecture models are coherent. Each system Resource Flow exchange listed in the SV-6 table should be traceable to at least one operational Resource Flow exchanged listed in the corresponding OV-3 Operational Resource Flow Matrix and these, in turn, trace to operation Resource Flows in the OV-2 Operational Resource Flow Description.

It should be noted that each data element exchanged may be related to the system function (from SV-4) that produces or consumes it. However, there need not be a one-to-one correlation between data elements listed in the SV-6 matrix and the data flows (inputs and outputs) that are produced or consumed in a related SV-4 Services Functionality Description. In addition, Data flows between system functions performed by the same systems may not be shown in the SV-6 matrix. SV-6 is about showing flows across system boundaries.

The SV-7 System Measures Matrix model builds on the SV-6 and should be developed at the same time.

DoDAF does not prescribe the column headings in a SV-6 Matrix. Identifiers of the operational Resource Flows from the OV-3 Operational Resource Flow Matrix that are implemented by the System Resource Flow Exchanges may be included in the table. All elements carried by the Resource Flow exchanges may be also shown.

SV-1 Systems Interface Description

SV-2 Systems Resource Flow Description

SV-3 Systems-Systems Matrix

SV-4 Systems Functionality Description

SV-5a Operational Activity to Systems Function Traceability Matrix

SV-5b Operational Activity to Systems Traceability Matrix

SV-6 Systems Resource Flow Matrix

SV-7 Systems Measures Matrix

SV-8 Systems Evolution Description

SV-9 Systems Technology & Skills Forecast

Introduction to SV-10a, SV10b, and SV-10c

SV-10a Systems Rules Model

SV-10b Systems State Transition Description

SV-10c Systems Event-Trace Description