© copyright 2001-2006, topquadrant inc. how enterprise architecture can benefit from semantic...

© Copyright 2001-2006, TopQuadrant Inc.

“How Enterprise Architecture can benefit from Semantic Technology"

Irene Polikoff, TopQuadrant

Presentation to the Washington DC Metro Chapter of the Association of Enterprise

Architects

January 11, 2006

© Copyright 2001 -2006 TopQuadrant Inc., “Semantic Technology and EA”, slide 2

TopQuadrant

TopQuadrant is a Consulting Company specializing in Semantic Technology Solutions and Ontology Engineering

Strategy and solution envisioning to explore the value of semantic technology. Services for business case development and technology selection.

Assessments of markets, trends, technologies, vendors, and best practices.

Support for building industrial strength semantic solutions. Services include architecture and planning as well as ontology development and system integration.

Comprehensive program of briefings and workshops on semantic web technologies. Both public and private on-site training.

Formed in November 2001Offices in the US at Pittsburgh, PA; Alexandria, VA; NASA Research Park, CASubsidiary in the UK


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TopQuadrant Methods for Ontology Engineering and Solution Envisioning

Clarity onthe problem

Appreciation ofthe solution

Developingthe blueprint

TopSAIL Ontology Engineering


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Enterprise Architecture is a model of an enterprise

Expressing how:people in roles,performing activities,using capabilities,provided by systems and

resources,overcome challenges and

generate valuewith measurable results

for realizing business goals

This is a “Knowledge Model” – an Ontology. It captures knowledge, so that:

Questions could be answered

New insights could be generated


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So What is An Ontology?

It is a run time model of informationDefined using constructs for:

Concepts – classes Relationships – properties (object and data) Rules – axioms and constraints Instances of concepts – individuals (data)


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This is an Ontology


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W3C standards for ontologies

Semantic web ontologies are defined using W3C standards: RDF/S and OWL

“Semantic Web is stimulating a whole new class of applications at individual, enterprise and web scales” – Eric Miller, W3C, Semantic Technologies for eGOV’2003

www.w3.org/ www.w3.org/2001/sw


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Example: the ‘Capability’ Class in RDF/OWL

<owl:Class rdf:about="#Capability"> <owl:equivalentClass> <owl:Class> <owl:intersectionOf

rdf:parseType="Collection">

<owl:Restriction> <owl:onProperty

rdf:resource="#overcomes" /> <owl:allValuesFrom> <owl:Class rdf:about="#Challenge"> </owl:Class> </owl:allValuesFrom> </owl:Restriction> <owl:Restriction> <owl:onProperty

rdf:resource="#enables" /> <owl:allValuesFrom> <owl:Class rdf:about="&tqc#Activity"> </owl:Class> </owl:allValuesFrom> </owl:Restriction>

<owl:Restriction> <owl:onProperty

rdf:resource= "#isCapabilityOf" />

<owl:allValuesFrom> <owl:Class

rdf:about= "&tqc#Organization">

</owl:Class> </owl:allValuesFrom> </owl:Restriction>

</owl:intersectionOf> </owl:Class></owl:equivalentClass></owl:Class>


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Ontologies are like and unlike other IT models

Like databases ontologies are used by applications at run time (queried and reasoned over) Unlike databases, relationships are first-class constructs

Like object models ontologies describe classes and attributes (properties) Unlike object models, ontologies are set-based

Like business rules they encode rules Unlike business rules, ontologies organize rules using axioms

Like XML schemas semantic web ontologies are native to the web (and are in fact serialized in XML) Unlike XML schemas, ontologies are graphs not trees and used

for reasoning


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Object models might look like ontologies, but they are not …

Consider an example: A class definition in OO is a template specified at design

time from which an instance of a class is created at run time

THE class to which a ‘thing’ belongs determines ALL the properties of that ‘thing’. This way we could have statements in a software program, such as, ‘Create new Customer’

Ontologies describe characteristics of a class, so that when we learn about properties of a ‘thing’, we can determine what class it belongs to:

The question ‘Is this a VIP customer?’, could be answered by comparing what we know about this particular customer with what we know about VIP customers

A member of a class:− Could have properties that have NOT been specified for the class− Does not have to have ALL the properties associated with a class


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An increasing number of vendors are adopting Semantic Web Standards

Adobe BT Cisco IBM SAP Software AG Verio …


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What are semantic web applications?

Semantic Web applications use ontologies: Instead of a database As an intelligent search ‘index’ As a classification system To hold business rules To integrate databases with disparate schemas To drive dynamic and personalized user interface To mediate between different systems As a metadata registry Semantic web services and semantic object are emerging

areas

They can be powered by ‘inference engines’ They are native to the web (internet, intranet or

extranet)


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For people, it can answer questions like: Who is using what business systems to do what? Who is using what technologies and products to do what? What systems and business processes will be affected if we

upgrade a software package? What technologies are supporting a given business process? Where components are being re-used or could be re-used? Who can we partner with at our agency and other agencies? How is our agency architecture aligned with the FEA? How new technologies (ie; XML, Web, Security) are being

taken up at our agency and at other agencies? Are they mature enough for e-government?

…

For applications, using an SOA, it can provide “An Active Enterprise Architecture”, that is “Consultable” “Executable”

What can a Semantic Enterprise Architecture do?


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The power of Semantic Technology for EA: Revealing Knowledge through Inferencing

Application provides CapabilityCapability enables CapabilityCapability supports Activity

Activity realizes IntentIntent isGoalOf Mission

enables is a Transitive Propertyprovides isSubPropertyOf enablessupports isSubPropertyOf enables

Given a capability and how it enables others, we can infer what activities it supports, how it realizes intent and the goals of the mission

TivoliPolicyDirector provides AuthenticationAuthentication enables SecureAccess

SecureAccess supports MissionOperations

TivoliPolicyDirector enables MissionOperations


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The power of Semantic Technology for EA: Achieving Aggregation through Federation

Enterprise Architecture is a “System of

Systems”


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The Evolution of the EA Solution Space


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English (describe the model and how to extend it)

Diagrams

Case tool models XML (DTD, XSD, etc.) RDF/S

OWL

How are EA models expressed?

© Copyright 2001-2006, TopQuadrant Inc.

The FEA-RMO Ontology Case Study


TopQuadrant

FEA-RMO: The FEA Reference Model Ontology

In 2004, TopQuadrant was contracted by GSA to develop an ontology of the FEA

FEA-RMO is a modular framework: FEA Core FEA BRM FEA PRM FEA SRM FEA TRM FEA DRM BRM – PRM Bridge

Agency extensions: Agency template DoD extensions (connections to DODAF) FAA extensions


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Ontology 101

Classes are Sets Sets can have Sub-Sets Relationships are Properties Properties are expressed as

“Subject-Property-Object” Triples

The “From-End” of the Property is the Domain and the “To-End” is the Range

Properties can have qualifiers

Domains and Ranges can be Set Expressions

Class/Set Membership is based on Properties

Classes can specify restrictions on property ranges

BRM

BusinessArea

Line Of Business

SubFunction

LOB 1

LOB 2

LOB 4

LOB 3

isLineOfBusinessOf

hasSubFunction


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FEA Reference Models – PRM

PRM

Outcome Measurement

Area

Output Measurement

Area

Input Measurement

Area

receivesValueprovidesValue

Measurement Category

Measurement Indicator

hasMeasurementCategory

hasMeasurementIndicator


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FEA Reference Models – BRM

BRM

BusinessArea

Line Of Business

SubFunction

LOB 1

LOB 2

LOB 4

LOB 3

isLineOfBusinessOf

hasSubFunction

PRM

subClassOf

The PRM’s Measurement Categories are the same as the BRM’s Lines of Business


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FEA Reference Models – SRM

SRM

Service Component

Service Type

Service Domain

ST 1 ST 2

ST 4

ST 3

isServiceComponentOf

hasServiceComponent

ST 5

hasServiceType

ComponentaccessedThrough

TRMdeliveredThrough

exchangesDataThrough

requiresProduct


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FEA Reference Models – TRM

TRM

Service Area

Service Category

Service Specification

Service Standard

hasServiceCategory

hasServiceSpecification

hasServiceStandard

SRMProduct

PRMprm:hasPerformanceMeasure

srm:requiredProductFor

categorizedIn


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Using Ontologies,FEA-RMO delivers “Line of Sight”

eGOV: Mission eGOV: intentOf

eGOV: Agency

eGOV:operates

brm: SubFunction

eGOV: hasIntent

brm: allignedWith

eGOV: Initiative

srm: developstrm: Technology

fea: ValuePoint

srm: Component

srm: allignedWith

prm: providesValue

prm: recivesValue

prm: hasPerformance

prm: Performance

prm:measuredBy

prm: OpMeasurementIndicator

srm:accessedThrough

srm: runsOn

……

rdfs:subClassOf

rdfs:subPropertyOf

eGOV: CustomereGOV: Process

Other relationships

fea: Value


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Why use RDF for an Reference Model?

Flexible, expressive models

Extensible in different ways

Federated

General graph modeling

Incremental evolution is supported through granularity of statements and innate support for distribution

Graph merging and aggregation is a primitive operation

Reference Model Requirements RDF Features


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The proof - a semantic application powered by the FEA-RMO Ontologies - 1

Demonstration at www.topquadrant.com/EAworld/index.htmSICoP Demonstrator – FEA Explorer


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Select either FEA Ontology or Agency-Specific Ontologies

Service specifications with links to more details

Search over all models for concepts



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Using FEA models to define agency specific EA

Adding a new sub-function

SICoP Demonstrator – FEA Editor


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DoD TRM

Agency-specific extensions shown “green”

Hot links to TRM areas

Demonstration at www.topquadrant.com/EAworld/index.htm SICoP Demonstrator


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Using FEA Model to describe a component - 1

Available elements from merged reference models

Demonstration at www.topquadrant.com/EAworld/index.htmSICoP Demonstrator – FEA Editor


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Using FEA Model to describe a component - 2

Demonstration at www.topquadrant.com/EAworld/index.htmSICoP Demonstrator – FEA Editor


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Using the FEA-RMO Ontologies to generate Agency-specific extension reports



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Using the FEA-RMO Ontologies to generate Agency-specific comparison reports



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Using the FEA-RMO Ontologies to generate Agency-specific initiatives reports



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Building on the FEA-RMO

GSA OSERA project DoDAF ontologies FAA EA project SPAWAR project


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What becomes possible with a semantic foundation?

FIND: Capability and Services Directory Context-aware retrieval

INTERPRET: Compliance Checker Dependency Discoverer Capability-Centric Communities of Practice

DECIDE: Impact Analyzer What-If Analyzer

ACT: Interest-Based Information Provider Capability Configurator


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Ontology-based Partnership Advisor


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Semantic FEA Solutions:OMB and Agency Budget Proposal System

Pro

po

sed

Bu

sin

ess

Ca

se

Sco

pe V

alid

ate

A

ssess

FEA Reference Models•feedback re. quality

•feedback re. use•feedback re. relevancefor strategic planning,

capital planning,& risk management

Metrics

Recommendations for improvement and

partnering

Ontology-Based Budget

ProposalRepository

Validate Value Proposition

C. Potential for reuse of Technologies and Components

A. Business Area and LOB supported?

B. Number of proposals with same capabilities?

Budget Proposal Assessment

FEA

Onto

logy-B

ase

d Im

port

D. Synergies for partnering

Assessment period could go down from 3 months to 7

weeksRe-submit period could go up from 1 week to 6 weeks - allowing time for collaborations to be negotiated Adapted from: Dr. Michael J. Kurtz, “The Role of Electronic Records Management in Implementing

eGovernment: Electronic Records and the Federal Enterprise Architecture”, NARA, 4/15/04


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4. Connections between different systems and tools are established.

Enterprise Architecture Maturity Levels

Ad hoc

Standardized

Formal

Federated

Executable

1. No common reference framework. Possible use of case tools. Little commonality between descriptions produced by different people and/or groups.

2. Established methodology for describing architectures. Use of industry standard/custom framework. Methodology not fully supported and enforced by tools.

3. Methodology enforced by tools based on a “Reference architecture”. Multiple tools in use, but from different vendors with low levels of interoperability. Reference framework and architectural models cannot be readily queried.

5. Models are consultable by applications at run time. Knowledge about enterprise activities, systems & capabilities becomes a real time resource.


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Enterprise Architecture Capabilities

Ad hoc

Standardized

Formal

Federated

Executable

Some sharing of architectural

ideas.

Document provisioning

Architectural models produced by different groups can be understood

more easily. Linkages can be described.

EA framework compliance

Architects can adhere to the framework. Improved productivity of architects as well as

improved fidelity of models.

“What-If” analysis, reports.Centralized IT governance

Architectural models are accessible across organizational contexts.

Information can be independently constructed, aggregated and made accessible to wide audiences.

Aggregation and exchange of data and metadata. Federated IT governance

Improved enterprise agility. Real-time decision support and re-configuration of capabilities. Models stay in-sync with the real world.

Adaptive enterprise capability management and service provisioning

Benefits

Capabilities


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Enterprise Architecture Technologies

Ad hoc

Standardized

Formal

Federated

Executable

Personal computers and office tools

Templates,spreadsheets

Case tools, taxonomies

XML data exchange, web-based repositories, RDF/S

OWL, Web Services, SWRL,

agents


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References

Irene Polikoff and Robert Coyne, “Towards Executable Enterprise Models: Ontology and Semantic Web Meet Enterprise Architecture”, Journal of Enterprise Architecture, Fawcette Publications, August 2005

Dean Allemang, Irene Polikoff, Ralph Hodgson , “Enterprise Architecture Reference Modeling in OWL/RDF”, ISWC, International Semantic Web Conference, Ireland, 2005

TopQuadrant White Paper on FEA-RMO, 2/21/2005 http://www.topquadrant.com/tq_ea_solutions.htm

FEA Ontology Models FEA - http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/FEA.owl BRM2PRM - http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/BRM2PRM.owl PRM - http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/prm.owl BRM - http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/brm.owl SRM - http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/srm.owl TRM - http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/trm.owl Merged Ontology -

http://www.osera.gov/owl/2004/11/fea/feac.owl


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Books on Semantic Technology - 1

Dieter Fensel, Wolfgang Wahlster, Henry Lieberman, James Hendler (Eds.): “Spinning the Semantic Web: Bringing the World Wide Web to Its Full Potential”, MIT Press, 2002

John Davies, Dieter Fensel & Frank van Harmelen:, “Towards the Semantic WEB – Ontology Driven Knowledge Management”, John Wiley, 2002

Johan Hjelm, “Creating the Semantic Web with RDF”, John Wiley, 2001

Dieter Fensel: “Ontologies: A Silver Bullet for Knowledge Management and Electronic Commerce”, Springer Verlag, 2001

Sheller Powers, “Practical RDF”, O’Reilly, 2003

Michael C. Daconta, Leo J. Obrst, Kevin T. Smith: “The Semantic Web: A Guide to the Future of XML, Web Services, and Knowledge Management”, John Wiley, 2003

Vladimir Geroimenko (Editor), Chaomei Chen (Editor), “Visualizing the Semantic Web”, Springer-Verlag, 2003

M. Klein and B. Omelayenko (eds.), “Knowledge Transformation for the Semantic Web”, Vol. 95, Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and Applications, IOS Press, 2003


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Books on Semantic Technology - 2

Thomas B. Passin, "Explorer's Guide to the Semantic Web", ISBN 1932394206, June 2004

Jeff Pollock and Ralph Hodgson,

"Adaptive Information: Improving Business Through Semantic Interoperability, Grid Computing, and Enterprise Integration“, John Wiley, September 2004

Grigoris Antoniou and Frank van Harmelen, “A Semantic Web Primer”, The MIT Press, April 2004

Munindar P. Singh, Michael N. Huhns, “Service-Oriented Computing : Semantics, Processes, Agents”, John Wiley & Sons, 2005

Irene Polikoff et al, ”Capability Cases – A Solution Envisioning Approach”, Addison-Wesley, 2005

© copyright 2001-2006, topquadrant inc. how enterprise architecture can benefit from semantic...

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