What are Organizations?

The Organization domain represents the structured entity within which activities and value delivery occur. It encompasses interconnected units, roles, and responsibilities that enable value flow to customers and stakeholders. This domain provides a holistic view of how an organization functions and how its structure impacts strategy execution and value delivery.

Each organizational unit links to specific capabilities, value streams, and products, showing how different parts contribute to business goals. The dynamic view allows for modeling changes, understanding potential impacts, and making swift adjustments based on performance metrics and market trends.

Organization Units

Within an Organization, an organization unit represents a sub-division or entity within an organization that focuses on specific functions, processes, or objectives to contribute to overall organizational goals. These units often act as operational or strategic building blocks, enabling the organization to deliver value effectively.

Organization attributes

Attribute

Description

Example

orgTitle

The name or title of the Organization

Office of Railroad Safety

Description

A detailed explanation of what the Organization entails

Regional safety oversight office responsible for inspections and enforcement of federal railroad safety regulations in the Northeast corridor

Structure

The Organization structure of the company

5 Regional Offices - 8 Technical Divisions

Roles

The roles within the Organization

Regional Administrator, Chief Safety Inspector, Track Specialist, Signal Engineer, Hazmat Inspector

Mission Statement

The mission of the Organization

Reduce railroad-related accidents and incidents through proactive inspections and data-driven safety programs

Vision Statement

The vision of the Organization

Zero train accidents and employee injuries through technology-enabled safety systems and predictive maintenance

Values

The core values guiding the Organization

Safety First, Data-Driven Decisions, Continuous Improvement

Strategic Goals

Long-term goals that align with the mission and vision

Reduce accident rate by 25% over 5 years, 100% implementation of PTC, 98% track inspection compliance

Stakeholders

Key Stakeholders of the Organization

Class I Railroads, Short Lines, State DOTs, Labor Unions, Equipment Manufacturers

Governance

The governance framework and policies

49 CFR Parts 200-299 Compliance Framework

Legal Structure

The legal structure of the Organization

Federal Agency - DOT Operating Administration

Geographic Presence

Locations and geographic reach of the Organization

8 regions covering 140,000 miles of track

Size

The size of the Organization in terms of employees revenue etc

847 field inspectors, $2.3B annual budget

Culture

The culture within the Organization

Data-driven safety culture with 94% employee engagement

History

The history and milestones of the Organization

Est. 1966, implemented PTC mandate 2008, achieved 99.6% compliance 2023

Strategic Initiatives

Key Initiatives to drive strategic goals

Digital Track Inspection Program, Grade Crossing Safety Initiative 2025

Organization unit element

Sub-Element

Description

Example

orgUnitTitle

The name or title of the Organization unit

Track and Rail Infrastructure Division

Description

A detailed explanation of what the Organization unit entails

Oversees track safety standards and inspection programs across the national rail network

Purpose

The intended purpose or function of the Organization unit within the Organization

Maintain Class 1-5 track safety standards compliance

Owner

The individual or team responsible for the Organization unit

Director of Track Safety

Higher-Organization Unit

The Organization or Organization unit above in the Organization hierarchy

Office of Railroad Safety

Sub-Organization Units

Sub-Organization units directly below this Organization unit in the Organization hierarchy

Track Geometry Program, Rail Defect Detection, Bridge Safety Unit

Roles

Specific roles within the Organization unit

Senior Track Inspector, Rail Integrity Specialist, Bridge Safety Engineer

Processes

Key processes carried out by the Organization unit

Track Geometry Car Operations, Ultrasonic Rail Testing, Bridge Load Rating

Performance Indicators

Metrics used to measure effectiveness and efficiency

98.7% track inspection compliance rate, 2.4 defects per 100 track miles

Dependencies

Other units processes or systems that the unit depends on

Signal Systems Division, Railroad Operations Unit

Related Units

Organization units that are related or linked

Grade Crossing Safety Unit, Hazmat Transportation Division

Risks

Potential risks associated with operations

Track buckling in extreme heat, delayed maintenance schedules

Improvement Opportunities

Areas for enhancement or improvement

Implement AI-based defect detection, increase inspection frequency

Strategic Alignment

Alignment with strategic goals and objectives

Contributes to 25% accident reduction goal through enhanced inspections

Domain relationships

Example: Office of Railroad Safety (USA)

Domain Entity name

Domain entity type

Relationship Role

Description

Workforce Planning

Capability

Owning unit

Responsible for workforce planning policies and systems across the FRA.

HR Support

Services

Providing unit

Offers recruitment and onboarding services to all technical divisions.

Track Inspection

Information

Consuming unit

Relies on technical inspection data for workforce deployment forecasting.

Rail Safety Regulation

Policy

Dependent unit

Applies and enforces regulation developed by Policy and Legal.

Digital Track Maintenance

Performance

Supported unit

Benefits from technology-enabled maintenance KPIs managed by Engineering.

Organization JSON Schema

See: https://github.com/Orthogramic/Orthogramic_Metamodel