generic
This package describes the ArchiMate generic metamodel that defines the full structure of the language.

It consists of two main types of elements: structure ('nouns') and behavior elements ('verbs').

Structure elements

Structure elements are the strategic element resource, and structural elements, which can be subdivided into active structure elements and passive structure elements. Active structure elements can be further subdivided into external active structure elements (also called interfaces) and internal active structure elements.

Behavior Elements

Behavior elements represent the dynamic aspects of the enterprise. Similar to active structure elements, behavior elements can be subdivided into internal behavior elements and external behavior elements; i.e., the services that are exposed to the environment.

These three aspects - active structure, behavior, and passive structure - have been inspired by natural language, where a sentence has a subject (active structure), a verb (behavior), and an object (passive structure).

 

: Hierarchy of Behavior and Structure Elements
Figure 3 : Hierarchy of Behavior and Structure Elements
ElementBehaviorElementStructureElementCapabilityInternalBehaviorElementExternalBehaviorElementCourseOfActionEventResourceActiveStructureElementExternalActiveStructureElementInternalActiveStructureElementPassiveStructureElementStrategyBehaviorElement
Package
Summary
composite
Composite elements consist of other concepts, possibly from multiple aspects or layers of the language.
motivation
Introduces the generic motivation element.
Class
Summary
ActiveStructureElement
Active structure elements are the subjects that can perform behavior.
BehaviorElement
Behavior elements represent the dynamic aspects of the enterprise.
Event
An event is a behavior element that denotes a state change that influences behavior.
ExternalActiveStructureElement

An external active structure element, called an interface, represents a point of access where one or more services are provided to the environment.

ExternalBehaviorElement
An external behavior element, called a service, represents a unit of valuable functionality with a specific outcome that a system exposes to its environment while hiding internal operations.
InternalActiveStructureElement
An internal active structure element represents an entity that is capable of performing behavior.
InternalBehaviorElement
An internal behavior element represents a unit of activity performed by one or more active structure elements.
PassiveStructureElement
Passive structure elements are the objects that can be accessed by behavior elements.
StructureElement
Represents structure elements.