Detailed comparison - Orthogramic Metamodel and BIZBOK
- damian.hickey
Introduction
The Orthogramic Metamodel builds on BIZBOK's core principles while addressing modern organisational needs through broader domain coverage, schema-first implementation, and integrated traceability. This section maintains the original comparison structure while incorporating enhancements that highlight the Metamodel's expanded scope and functionality.
Domain coverage and scope
BIZBOK | Orthogramic Metamodel |
|---|---|
Organization Strategy Capabilities Value Streams Stakeholders Information Initiatives Products Policy Performance Services People Customer Market Finance Risk Management Supply Chain Technology Innovation Sustainability Channel | Organization Strategy Capabilities Value Streams Stakeholders Information Initiatives Policy Performance Products Services People Customer Market Finance Risk Management Supply Chain Technology Innovation Sustainability Channel |
BIZBOK domain coverage clarification
Services are seen as deliverables of capabilities and often tied to value delivery in value streams.
Performance is not always treated as a fully modelled standalone domain with rich schema or relationships—it is more of an overlay or analysis layer.
Policies are often treated as supporting information, not always as a formal standalone domain.
Structural depth
BIZBOK: Conceptual guidance with practitioner discretion
Orthogramic: Schema-based definitions for each domain including attributes, relationships, and elements
Orthogramic expands beyond the traditional business architecture view to incorporate regulatory, operational, and ecosystem-level modelling. This ensures strategic and compliance considerations are not managed in isolation.
Inter-domain relationships and traceability
Aspect | BIZBOK | Orthogramic Metamodel |
|---|---|---|
Cross-domain relationships | Suggested mappings between domains (e.g. Capabilities to Value Streams) | Explicit schema-defined relationships (e.g. Customer–Capability, Product–Policy, Strategy–Initiative–Performance) |
Traceability | Practitioner-led mapping across documents and models | Structured references supporting automated traceability and dependency analysis |
Inter-unit relationships | Not formally modelled | Formal modelling of inter-unit domain relationships using roles (e.g. owner, provider, consumer) |
The metamodel treats cross-domain dependencies as first-class data, enabling automated visualisation, alignment scoring, and impact analysis through structured schema references.
Implementation and automation support
Aspect | BIZBOK | Orthogramic Metamodel |
|---|---|---|
Schemas | Not available | All domains and relationships defined in JSON Schema format |
Digital integration | Relies on practitioner interpretation and tooling choices | API-ready, validation-enabled, and directly integratable with digital platforms (e.g. Planview, Salesforce, Workday) |
Machine readability | Not natively supported | Designed for automation and real-time system integration |
By grounding each domain in a formal schema, the metamodel enables consistency, validation, and self-service across architecture, compliance, strategy, and operations.
Strategic responsiveness and performance management
Aspect | BIZBOK | Orthogramic Metamodel |
|---|---|---|
Strategic execution | Strategy linked to capabilities and initiatives through value streams | Formal Strategic Response Model linking Triggers and Rationales to responsive changes across multiple domains |
Performance tracking | Suggested metrics but not embedded | Performance domain with structured indicators, variance analysis, and linkage to strategy and initiatives |
Governance and oversight | Advised through frameworks and practices | Embedded governance via policy, performance, and inter-unit relationships with traceable ownership and metrics |
Summary
Category | BIZBOK | Orthogramic Metamodel |
|---|---|---|
Modelling Rigour | Moderate (narrative guidance and best practices) | High (formal schemas, detailed attributes) |
Interoperability | Tool-independent; requires manual implementation | Schema-based, tool-friendly |
Coverage of Domains | Focused on core domains with conceptual alignment | Broader with finer granularity |
Practical Utility | Designed for guidance and interpretation | Designed for structured implementation |
Governance and Traceability | Advised in practice, not encoded in metamodel | Explicitly modelled |
Strategic Response Framework | Conceptual approach through scenarios lacking formal structure | Comprehensive, structured approach connecting triggers, rationales, and responses |
Performance Management | Primarily retrospective performance measurement | Forward-looking with predictive indicators and temporal outcomes |
The metamodel enables decision-makers to move beyond static documentation and into a responsive, data-driven operating model that supports transparency, accountability, and agility.
The Orthogramic Metamodel license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0), ensuring it remains open, collaborative, and widely accessible.