Synergizing the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) With the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) For Operationalization

This study analyzes the activities and statutory and regulatory documentation required for the Department of Defense (DoD) Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF) Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) Planning and Execution phases to identify a mapping of Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) model views.

UAF, an enterprise architecture modeling language standard from the Object Management Group®, provides a comprehensive set of views and structured semantics for identifying capability needs, developing enterprise strategies, developing roadmaps, defining architectures, and analyzing value that is prescribed for the SWP.

The study decomposes the Planning and Execution phases of the SWP into a set of 25 scenarios for the use of descriptive and analytical enterprise architecture models in the embedded software sub-path. The mapped views and scenarios establish a basis for performing the prescribed activities of the SWP using a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approach. The views also provide a deeper understanding of the structured information required as part of the pathways and the interfaces between enterprise activities.

From an operationalization perspective, DoD stakeholders executing the SWP, using the results of this study, will be equipped to transform a primarily document-based method to fully traceable and analyzable models in accordance with DoD Instruction 5000.97 Digital Engineering.