You can build architectures and model complex systems by using the Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) with the Activity Based Method (ABM).

The Activity Based approach to architecture development provides several benefits, such as the ability to generate Operational and System Views from model data, greater data consistency, and higher architecture and analysis product quality. The ABM was introduced for DoDAF 1.5.

For more information, see Activity Based Methodology (ABM) overview.

The DoDAF ABM feature provides a series of utilities that enable you to generate diagrams relationships and other symbols.

For more information, see DoDAF (ABM) utilities.

The operational architecture view describes the tasks, activities, operational elements, and information flows that are required for a military operation to take place. It describes what types and how often information can be exchanged, which tasks and activities are supported by the information exchanges, and the nature of information exchanges in order to establish specific interoperability requirements.

For more information, see Developing operational views with DoDAF ABM.

You can create diagrams to describe the Systems View (SV) of a complex system. The systems architecture view describes and depicts systems and interconnections that provide for, or support, warfare functions.

For more information, see Developing system views with DoDAF ABM.

The technical component of an architecture is the set of rules that governs the implementation and operation of the system.

For more information, see Creating technical architecture view products (ABM for DoDAF).

To build net-centric architectures, as prescribed by DoDAF 1.5, you capture the capabilities of the operational and systems architecture.

For more information, see Modeling net-centric architectures with capabilities and services (ABM for DoDAF).

The Recursive Capability Parent/Child Relationship Check looks for and warns you when invalid relationships of these types are found.

For more information, see Generating recursive capability parent/child relationship check reports (ABM for DoDAF).

The Recursive Dependency Relationship Check searches for invalid relationships and warns you when any of these types are found.

For more information, see Generating recursive capability dependency relationship check reports (ABM for DoDAF).

You can run Word reports for DoDAF (ABM) by selecting a report from the Reports menu. Reports assist you with the analysis and communication of MODAF products at various stages in their development.

For more information, see Running Word reports for DoDAF (ABM).