Rationale

1 Introduction
2 Usage in Business Architecture
- 2.1 Rationale classification framework
- 2.2 Distinguishing reactive and proactive rationales
3 Relationship with other aspects of the Metamodel
4 Implementation guidance
5 Rationale Schema
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Core Schema Properties
- 5.3 Example of alternativesConsidered
- 5.4 Example of competitivePositioning
- 5.5 Domain-Specific Schema Extensions
6 Enumeration Values
- 6.1 Core Enumerations
- 6.2 Domain-Specific Enumerations

Introduction

A Rationale provides the logical reasoning behind a strategic or operational response. It connects a specific condition (Trigger) to a reasoned explanation that guides actions across one or more business architecture domains. Rationales are formalized objects in the Strategic Response Model and are central to decision transparency and traceability.

Rationales help ensure that every action taken by the organization is grounded in strategic intent and can be clearly explained through a documented reasoning process.

Every Rationale must reference the Trigger that prompted it. This is represented by linking to a triggerID. This linkage ensures traceability from external condition through to internal response.

Rationales may arise from various considerations in response to triggers, including risk assessment, compliance requirements, strategic opportunities, or performance insights.

Usage in Business Architecture

In the Orthogramic Metamodel, rationales serve to:

Explain why an initiative, policy, or change exists
Link strategic drivers to responses in a structured way
Support transparency and traceability from high-level drivers to operational change
Bridge the gap between organizational triggers and strategic objectives

Rationales may be connected to multiple elements across the business architecture, including:

Initiatives and Strategies that require explanation
Policies, Capabilities, and Value Streams being introduced or adjusted
Performance goals or KPIs in the Performance domain

Rationale classification framework

Rationales in the Orthogramic Metamodel follow a structured classification system that supports analytics, reuse, and auditability. Each rationale is categorized according to:

Rationale Orientation: Whether the rationale is reactive to existing conditions or proactive to anticipated conditions
Rationale Type: The response category (Preventative, Remedial, Opportunistic, etc.)
Reasoning Pattern: The logical structure of the rationale (Causal, Comparative, Normative, etc.)
Evidence Base: The foundation for the rationale (Data-driven, Expert judgment, Industry best practice, etc.)
Strategic Objective Reference: Direct link to the strategic objective this rationale supports
Business Value Type: The nature of value creation or preservation (Cost reduction, Revenue growth, Market creation, etc.)

This classification framework enables organizations to:

Trace patterns in decision-making across similar situations
Evaluate the distribution of rationales by type, evidence base, and strategic alignment
Establish a rationale library that can be referenced for similar future decisions
Support knowledge management and organizational learning

Distinguishing reactive and proactive rationales

The Orthogramic Metamodel explicitly distinguishes between reactive and proactive rationales:

Reactive Rationales: Respond to existing conditions, events, or triggers that have already occurred
Proactive Rationales: Anticipate future conditions or opportunities that have not yet materialized

Proactive rationales should document:

Anticipated outcomes that justify the proactive approach
Alternatives that were considered but not selected
Competitive positioning benefits expected

Relationship with other aspects of the Metamodel

The Rationale schema has relationships with multiple domains in the Orthogramic Metamodel:

Strategic Response Model: Rationales provide the reasoning component that connects triggers to responses.
Triggers: Each rationale must reference at least one trigger that prompted it.
Domain-Specific Elements: Rationales can reference elements from all domains including Customer, Market, Finance, Risk, Supply Chain, Innovation, Sustainability, People, Technology, and Channel domains.
Performance Indicators: Rationales may link to performance indicators that measure their effectiveness.

This consolidated schema supports structured reasoning and traceability across strategy, policy, and initiative development, ensuring that every response is grounded in a documented rationale that bridges from trigger events to strategic objectives.

Relationship with domains

Rationales bridge between Triggers and organizational responses across multiple domains:

Strategy: Rationales explain strategic adjustments based on triggers
Capabilities: Rationales describe why capabilities need to be developed or modified
Initiatives: Rationales provide the foundation for launching initiatives
Policy: Rationales explain policy changes in response to triggers
Performance: Rationales describe modifications to performance metrics
Customer: Rationales justify changes to customer approaches and experiences
Market: Rationales explain market-related decisions and competitive responses
Finance: Rationales support financial resource allocation decisions
Risk Management: Rationales document risk-based decision processes
Supply Chain: Rationales justify supply chain configuration choices
Innovation: Rationales explain innovation investments and experimental approaches
Sustainability: Rationales articulate the basis for environmental and social initiatives
People: Rationales document the reasoning behind workforce and cultural decisions
Technology: Rationales explain technology selection and architecture choices
Channel: Rationales justify distribution channel strategies and partnerships

Relationship to strategic response model

Each rationale bridges the gap between a trigger event and organizational action. While triggers explain what happened to prompt a response, rationales explain why we're responding in this specific way.

Key distinctions between triggers and rationales

It's important to understand the relationship between Triggers and Rationales:

Triggers represent external or internal events/conditions that prompt a response (what happened)
Rationales explain the reasoning behind a specific response to that trigger (why we're responding this way)

A single Trigger (e.g., "New Safety Regulation") might prompt multiple Rationales with different types:

Preventative: "Implementing these changes will prevent future incidents"
Compliance-focused: "We must implement to meet regulatory requirements"
Opportunistic: "This gives us a competitive advantage in safety reputation"

Rationale and Trigger linkage examples

See: https://github.com/Orthogramic/Orthogramic_Metamodel/tree/main/examples

Implementation guidance

Clarity: Each rationale should clearly articulate the reasoning that connects the trigger to the chosen response
Traceability: Rationales should link to the relevant trigger, strategic objective, and affected domains
Consistency: Use the defined rationale types to ensure consistent classification
Evidence: Document the evidence base that supports each rationale
Strategic Alignment: Always connect rationales to strategic objectives to maintain alignment
Alternatives: Document alternative approaches considered and reasons for their rejection
Orientation: Clearly classify rationales as reactive or proactive
Competitive Context: For market-facing rationales, document competitive positioning impact

Rationale Schema

Introduction

A Rationale provides the logical reasoning behind a strategic or operational response. It connects a specific condition (Trigger) to a reasoned explanation that guides actions across one or more business architecture domains. Rationales are formalized objects in the Strategic Response Model and are central to decision transparency and traceability.

See: GitHub - Orthogramic/Orthogramic_Metamodel

Core Schema Properties

The following core schema properties apply to all rationales, regardless of domain:

Field	Type	Required	Description	Example

Field	Type	Required	Description	Example
rationaleID	string (uuid)	Yes	Unique identifier for the rationale	"7a98e34d-f2b4-4ad1-9ac9-ecda9f145d79"
rationaleTitle	string	Yes	Title or summary of the rationale	"Responding to new safety regulation"
description	string	Yes	Detailed explanation supporting a strategic response	"The new regulation requires immediate updates to inspection protocols"
triggerReference	string (uuid)	Yes	Primary trigger this rationale responds to	"uuid-of-trigger"
triggerReferences	array of uuid	No	Optional multiple triggers this rationale addresses	["uuid-1", "uuid-2"]
linkedDomains	array of enum	No	Business architecture domains influenced or justified by this rationale	["Policy", "Performance"]
rationaleType	string (enum)	Yes	The justification type for this rationale	"Compliance_Fulfillment"
rationaleOrientation	string (enum)	Yes	Whether the rationale is responding to existing conditions or anticipating future conditions	"Proactive"
anticipatedOutcomes	array of string	No	For proactive rationales, the expected benefits or outcomes	["Market leadership", "20% cost reduction"]
alternativesConsidered	array of objects	No	Other strategic options that were evaluated but not selected	See example below
reasoningPattern	string (enum)	No	The logical structure of the rationale	"Deductive"
evidenceBase	string (enum)	No	The foundation for the rationale	"External_Research"
strategicObjectiveReference	string (uuid)	No	Reference to the strategic objective this rationale supports	"uuid-of-objective"
businessValueType	string (enum)	No	The nature of value creation or preservation	"Risk_Reduction" or "Market_Creation"
competitivePositioning	object	No	How this rationale advances competitive stance	See example below
dateCreated	string (date)	No	The date the rationale was first recorded	"2025-04-20"
lastReviewed	string (date)	No	The most recent date of rationale review	"2025-06-01"
effectivenessRating	integer (1–5)	No	Optional evaluation of rationale effectiveness	4
author	string	No	The person or team who documented the rationale	"Business Architecture Team"
orgUnitTitle	string	No	The organisational unit that owns or authored the rationale	"Regulatory Compliance Division"
relatedRationales	array of uuid	No	References to other related rationales	["uuid-1", "uuid-2"]
relationshipTypes	array of enum	No	Type of relationship with each related rationale	["supports", "supersedes"]

Example of alternativesConsidered

"alternativesConsidered": [
  {
    "alternativeID": "c1d2e3f4-a5b6-7890-cdef-123456789012",
    "alternativeDescription": "Third-party partnership with established analytics provider",
    "reasonForRejection": "Insufficient data sovereignty and competitive advantage dilution"
  },
  {
    "alternativeDescription": "Acquisition of AI analytics startup",
    "reasonForRejection": "Due diligence revealed technical debt and integration challenges"
  }
]

Example of competitivePositioning

"competitivePositioning": {
  "positioningType": "Differentiation",
  "positioningDescription": "Position our products as uniquely responsive to emerging customer needs through superior predictive analytics capabilities",
  "competitiveTarget": "Premium segment currently dominated by competitors relying on retrospective analytics"
}

Domain-Specific Schema Extensions

The rationale schema can be extended with domain-specific properties to capture context-specific reasoning. The following sections describe these domain-specific extensions.

Customer Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Customer domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
customerSegmentIDs	array of string	Customer segments this rationale relates to	["CUST-SEG-001", "CUST-SEG-003"]
customerInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of customer insights supporting this rationale	"Voice_of_Customer", "Customer_Behavior_Analysis", "Market_Research"
reasoningPattern	string (enum)	Customer-specific reasoning patterns	"Customer_Needs_Based", "Journey_Friction_Based", "Segment_Value_Based"
businessValueType	string (enum)	Customer-specific value types	"Customer_Retention_Value", "Customer_Experience_Value", "Brand_Loyalty_Value"

Market Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Market domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
marketIDs	array of string	Markets this rationale relates to	["MKT-ENTSW-001", "MKT-CLOUD-002"]
marketInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of market insights supporting this rationale	"Market_Research", "Competitive_Intelligence", "Industry_Analysis"
competitiveImplications	object	How this rationale affects competitive position	{"implicationType": "offensive", "targetCompetitors": ["Competitor A"], "expectedResponse": "Price matching"}
marketRisks	array of objects	Market risks associated with this rationale	[{"riskDescription": "Increased competition", "likelihood": 4, "impact": 3, "mitigation": "Accelerated innovation"} ]

Finance Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Finance domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
financeIDs	array of string	Financial elements this rationale relates to	["FIN-INV-001", "FIN-BUD-002"]
financialInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of financial insights supporting this rationale	"Financial_Analysis", "Budget_Analysis", "Investment_Review"
financialImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of financial implications	{"impactType": "income_statement", "estimatedAmount": 1500000, "impactTimeframe": "Q3-Q4 2025"}
financialRisks	array of objects	Financial risks associated with this rationale	[{"riskDescription": "Capital cost overrun", "financialExposure": 500000, "likelihood": 3, "mitigation": "Phased funding approach"}]

Risk Management Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Risk Management domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
riskIDs	array of string	Risks this rationale relates to	["RISK-CYBER-001", "RISK-COMP-002"]
riskInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of risk insights supporting this rationale	"Risk_Assessment", "Incident_Analysis", "Control_Monitoring"
riskImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of risk implications	{"impactType": "operational", "impactSeverity": "significant", "impactLikelihood": "moderate", "confidenceLevel": 4}

Supply Chain Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Supply Chain domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
supplyChainIDs	array of string	Supply chain elements this rationale relates to	["SC-MFG-001", "SC-MFG-002"]
supplyChainInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of supply chain insights supporting this rationale	"Supply_Chain_Analytics", "Supplier_Feedback", "Market_Intelligence"
supplyChainImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of supply chain implications	{"impactAreas": ["supplier_network", "inventory"], "impactSeverity": "significant", "impactTimeframe": "medium-term"}

Innovation Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Innovation domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
innovationIDs	array of string	Innovation elements this rationale relates to	["INN-DIGITAL-001", "INN-AI-003"]
innovationInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of innovation insights supporting this rationale	"Experiment_Results", "Innovation_Metrics", "Prototype_Feedback"
innovationImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of innovation implications	{"impactType": "acceleration", "affectedCapabilities": ["Experimentation", "Idea Management"], "timeframeChange": "35% reduction in cycle time"}

Sustainability Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Sustainability domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
sustainabilityIDs	array of string	Sustainability elements this rationale relates to	["SUST-ENV-001", "SUST-SOC-002"]
sustainabilityInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of sustainability insights supporting this rationale	"ESG_Assessment", "Climate_Scenario_Analysis", "Stakeholder_Materiality_Assessment"
sustainabilityImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of sustainability implications	{"impactDimensions": ["Carbon Footprint", "Biodiversity"], "stakeholderExpectations": "Visible progress on emissions reduction", "complianceRelevance": "Supports anticipated regulatory requirements"}

People Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the People domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
peopleIDs	array of string	People elements this rationale relates to	["PEOPLE-WORKFORCE-001", "PEOPLE-CULTURE-002"]
peopleInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of people insights supporting this rationale	"Engagement_Assessment", "Skills_Analysis", "Cultural_Assessment"
peopleImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of workforce implications	{"impactAreas": ["Talent Development", "Organizational Culture"], "affectedRoles": ["Engineering", "Product Development"], "timeframeForChange": "6-12 months"}

Technology Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Technology domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
technologyIDs	array of string	Technology elements this rationale relates to	["TECH-API-001", "TECH-CLOUD-002"]
technologyInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of technology insights supporting this rationale	"Technology_Assessment", "Security_Monitoring", "Vendor_Notification"
technologyImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of technology implications	{"impactAreas": ["System Architecture", "Security Framework"], "technicalDebt": "Significant reduction potential", "timeframeForImplementation": "3 release cycles"}

Channel Domain Extensions

When a rationale relates to the Channel domain, the following additional properties can be specified:

Field	Type	Description	Example

Field	Type	Description	Example
channelIDs	array of string	Channel elements this rationale relates to	["CHAN-RETAIL-001", "CHAN-DIGITAL-002"]
channelInsightSource	string (enum)	Source of channel insights supporting this rationale	"Channel_Performance_Analysis", "Partner_Feedback", "Distribution_Network_Assessment"
channelImpactAssessment	object	Assessment of channel implications	{"impactAreas": ["Partner Network", "Digital Touchpoints"], "customerJourneyEffects": "Improved cross-channel consistency", "implementationComplexity": "Medium"}

Enumeration Values

Core Enumerations

rationaleOrientation

Reactive - Responding to existing conditions or events that have already occurred
Proactive - Anticipating future conditions or opportunities that have not yet materialized

rationaleType (Core)

Preventative - Aims to prevent potential negative outcomes before they occur
Remedial - Addresses existing problems or deficiencies that need correction
Opportunistic - Leverages an emerging situation to create value or advantage
Proactive - Initiates change in anticipation of future needs or conditions
Reactive - Direct response to a specific trigger or event
Compliance_Fulfillment - Ensures adherence to legal, regulatory, or policy requirements
Strategic_Advancement - Supports forward movement on strategic objectives or positioning

reasoningPattern (Core)

Causal - Based on cause-and-effect relationships between events or conditions
Comparative - Based on similarities or differences with other situations or organizations
Normative - Based on standards, best practices, or what should ideally be done
Predictive - Based on forecasts or projections of future conditions
Analogical - Based on parallels with similar situations encountered previously
Deductive - Based on applying general principles to specific situations
Inductive - Based on recognizing patterns from specific observations

evidenceBase (Core)

Data_Driven - Primarily supported by quantitative metrics or analysis
Expert_Judgment - Based on specialized knowledge or experience of subject matter experts
Industry_Best_Practice - Informed by recognized standards or approaches in the industry
Customer_Feedback - Derived from direct customer or user input
Internal_Analysis - Based on internal studies, assessments, or evaluations
External_Research - Supported by third-party research or market analysis
Competitive_Analysis - Informed by assessment of competitor strategies or positions
Sustainability_Insight - Based on environmental or social impact analysis
People_Insight - Derived from workforce or cultural assessments
Experiment_Results - Based on innovation testing outcomes
Prototype_Feedback - Derived from prototype evaluation

businessValueType (Core)

Cost_Reduction - Decreasing operational or production expenses
Revenue_Growth - Increasing income or sales volume
Risk_Reduction - Mitigating potential threats or vulnerabilities
Customer_Experience - Enhancing interactions and satisfaction for customers
Operational_Efficiency - Improving internal processes or productivity
Competitive_Advantage - Strengthening position relative to competitors
Brand_Perception - Enhancing how the organization is viewed in the market
Stakeholder_Trust - Building confidence among investors, partners, or regulators
Market_Creation - Developing entirely new markets or customer segments
First_Mover_Advantage - Gaining benefits from being first to market with an offering
Market_Disruption - Changing existing market structures or business models
Innovation_Leadership - Establishing recognized leadership in innovative practices
Ecosystem_Development - Building or expanding a network of partners or complementary offerings
Strategic_Positioning - Improving long-term strategic position or capabilities
Environmental_Value - Creating positive environmental impacts or reducing negative ones
Social_Value - Generating positive social outcomes or addressing social issues
Governance_Value - Improving organizational governance structures or processes
Talent_Value - Enhancing workforce capabilities or engagement
Culture_Value - Strengthening organizational culture
Knowledge_Value - Preserving or enhancing organizational knowledge
Channel_Reach_Value - Expanding access to customers through distribution channels
Distribution_Efficiency_Value - Optimizing channel operations and costs
Partner_Network_Value - Strengthening relationships with distribution partners

competitivePositioning.positioningType

Differentiation - Setting the organization apart based on unique attributes or capabilities
Cost_Leadership - Competing primarily on price or value through operational efficiency
Focus_Strategy - Targeting specific market segments with tailored offerings
Blue_Ocean - Creating uncontested market space rather than competing in existing markets
Industry_Leadership - Establishing the organization as a dominant force in the industry
Fast_Follower - Quickly adopting innovations after market validation by others
Niche_Dominance - Commanding a specialized market segment or application area
Strategic_Alliance - Leveraging partnerships or collaborations for competitive advantage

relationshipTypes

supports - This rationale reinforces or enhances another rationale
contradicts - This rationale conflicts with or opposes another rationale
expands - This rationale builds upon or extends the scope of another rationale
duplicates - This rationale substantially overlaps with another rationale
supersedes - This rationale replaces or makes obsolete another rationale

Domain-Specific Enumerations

Customer Domain

customerInsightSource

Voice_of_Customer - Direct feedback from customers
Customer_Behavior_Analysis - Analysis of customer actions and patterns
Market_Research - Structured research on customer segments and needs
Customer_Service_Data - Information from customer service interactions
Social_Media_Analysis - Insights from social media conversations
Customer_Journey_Mapping - Analysis of customer experience touchpoints
Customer_Feedback - Formalized feedback mechanisms
Competitive_Analysis - Understanding customer choices vs. competitors

Customer-specific reasoningPattern

Customer_Needs_Based - Focused on addressing explicit customer requirements
Market_Trends_Based - Responding to changing customer behaviors