Evaluation of the DoDAF Meta-Model's Support of Systems Engineering

Abstract

The Department of Defense Architectural Framework (DoDAF) is the DoD's mandated method to document system architectures. Consequently, it has a far-reaching and deep impact on systems engineering and acquisition within the DoD. DoDAF version 2.0 departs from earlier versions in its emphasis on the underlying architectural data. It is now based on a meta model called DM2 that defines all the concepts and their relationships. This paper examines DM2 with a critical eye toward how it is defined, modeled, and used to support systems engineering. The evaluation is based on a text analysis of systems engineering guidebooks and a comparison with the DM2 definitions. We classify mismatches between the systems engineering guidebooks and DM2 and highlight some omissions in DM2 of important systems engineering concepts. We find that DM2 has some serious omissions that have implications for the ability of DM2 to support systems engineering. We make two recommendations for how DM2 can address these issues. First, the underlying ontology should be developed and modeled using more widespread used tools to facilitate greater understanding, adoption, and acceptance by the community. Second, the ontology must be designed to support the decision processes using language familiar to the intended users.