Oman eGovernment Architecture Framework
(OeGAF) - A Quick Glance
“An outcome of sustained and collaborative effort by committed
working group members from key government agencies”
OeGAF - An Interconnected framework
OeGAF - Facts
• All you need to know about your Network, Platform, Data centre, Service access , Service integration, Applications, Data
Management and Lines of Business are available.
• More than
•
72 Government Agencies analysed.
79 Subject matter experts from 24 Government agencies contributed to the development of OeGAF.
• More than
265 Standards and specifications are available in OeGAF.
• More than
150 design considerations and best practices are available.
•
24 Government Lines of Business (LOB) for Government identified.
•
78 Government functions documented.
• Details of
180 Applications across 17 Ministries are available.
•
3 Data Hubs defined - People, Business and Land Hub.
•
12 Reference data code tables are available.
• Another
12 data sources related to employment and education are available.
Foreword
Information Technology Authority (ITA) is delighted to present a quick glance of the Oman eGovernment Architecture Framework
(OeGAF) which will be of use for everyone involved in IT projects.
In particular, we feel this quick glance would be useful for business and technical colleagues who require quick overview of OeGAF
before delving into the details that the full specification provides. It explains the What, Who, Why, Where, When and How of the
enterprise and IT architecture using OeGAF Specifications.
As you are aware by now that one of the key objectives of ITA is to enhance government services to achieve higher level of citizen/
customer satisfaction by:
1. Providing timely and secure access to essential information,
2. Enabling seamless integration of Government services, and
3. Improving the efficiency of service delivery.
To achieve the above objective, ITA has established the “Oman eGovernance Framework” which is a set of architectural standards,
best practices and process management systems.
The “Oman eGovernance Framework” consists of the following building blocks:
1. Oman e-Government Architecture Framework (OeGAF)
2. Process Management Systems
3. Standards Working Groups
4. Standards Management Process
5. Standards/Guidelines Resource Library.
Starting from this blueprint, the working group members have developed the “Oman eGovernment Architecture Framework” – also
known in short as “OeGAF” that will be published on the ITA website.
The Oman eGovernment Architecture Framework (OeGAF) which is the technology component of Oman eGovernance Framework
is a structured framework that guides the design, construction, deployment and management of distributed Information Systems
across the various Government Agencies.
OeGAF contains the principles, strategies and building blocks that support the goals of the government. The architecture can direct
the selection, use and operation of technologies needed to support government business requirements and delivery of services. The
architecture reduces the time and cost of deploying applications, while making it easier to integrate information and services.
OeGAF helps the Government to act as an “Integrated Enterprise” and manage IT as a strategic investment.
As a first time reader of OeGAF you may find it worthwhile to read the set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s), that will enable you
to understand the following:
• Understand Enterprise Architecture
• Understand Oman eGovernance Framework
• Understand the various architectures of OeGAF
• Understand the importance of OeGAF and how it is helpful to the government agencies
• Understand the structure of OeGAF
• Understand what compliance to OeGAF means and how government agencies can assess compliance of their IT Systems to
OeGAF
• Understand how ITA will help government agencies in understanding, using, assessing and enhancing compliance to OeGAF.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF
Q1
What is Enterprise Architecture?
Why you should know Enterprise Architecture?
Enterprise architecture (EA) is a comprehensive description of the structure of an enterprise, including enterprise goals, business
functions, business information, software applications and computer systems.
It is important that you are aware of Enterprise Architecture because in today’s trend Enterprise Architecture is taking the centre stage
in organizations. In-fact organizations are investing in practitioners of EA who call themselves “enterprise architects.” An enterprise
architect is a person responsible for developing the enterprise architecture and is often called upon to draw conclusions from it. By
producing an enterprise architecture, architects are providing a tool for identifying opportunities to improve the enterprise, in a
manner that more effectively and efficiently pursues its purpose.
You can also refer to The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) - www.togaf.org for further insight and understanding on the
subject of Enterprise Architecture and Enterprise Architecture Development and Methodology.
Q2
How does Enterprise Architecture help you?
Enterprise Architecture helps an organization in aligning its IT infrastructure, related systems and components in realizing the business
objectives of the top management.
Q3
What is Oman eGovenance Framework?
Oman eGovernance Framework is a set of standards/best practices and process management systems to enhance the delivery of
Government Services in alignment with the Mission of ITA.
The frame work spells the rules and procedures
to ensure that Government IT projects and
systems sustain and extend ITA’s strategies
and objectives. It will also provide assurance
about the value of IT, provide framework for
the management of IT-related risks and putting
together controls to minimize risks and better
deliver IT initiatives. Figure 1 illustrates the
framework.
The “Oman eGovernance Framework” consists
of the following building blocks:
1. Oman
e-Government
Framework (OeGAF)
Architecture
2. Process Management Systems
3. Standards Working Groups
4. Standards Management Process
5. Standards/Guidelines Resource Library.
Figure 1: Oman eGovernance Framework
Q4
What are the Components/Architectures of OeGAF?
OeGAF consists of four main architectures as
follows:
1. Business Architecture
2. Solution Architecture
3. Information Architecture
4. Technical Architecture
Each of the architecture has a corresponding
Reference Model. Each Reference Model
describes a framework to define and
organise the architecture elements. Security
considerations and standards for the four
architectures of OeGAF are defined in the
respective Reference Models.
Figure 2 depicts the overall OeGAF Reference
Architecture.
Figure 2: Overall OeGAF Reference Architecture
The four Reference Models of OeGAF are:
The Business Reference Model (BRM) describes the different lines of business and the associated government functions of the Oman
Government that cut across the boundaries of different agencies.
The Solution Reference Model (SRM) describes the common applications and application components that can be shared across the
Oman Government. It includes the technical standards and security considerations pertaining to the design and implementation of
solutions and applications.
The Information Reference Model (IRM) lists the data definitions and data elements of common and shared data that are used
across the Oman Government. As part of the initial baseline scope, IRM describes the data pertaining to ‘Person’, ‘Establishment’ and
‘Land’ data hubs which are commonly used by various agencies’ applications. It also defines technical standards, design and security
considerations and best practices related to the management of data.
The Technical Reference Model (TRM) defines the infrastructure technologies and their respective technical standards to enable
better system integration and interoperability across the Oman Government. It also defines the security considerations and standards
related to the infrastructure technologies.
The security considerations and standards for the architectures of OeGAF are defined in the respective Reference Models.
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Q5
Why OeGAF is important to you and how is it helpful to you?
Being one of the key components of Oman eGovernance Framework, OeGAF is essentially a whole-of-government enterprise
architecture that aims to facilitate interoperability and integration of IT systems from different agencies by defining technical
standards, commonly used data and IT application systems. The proper use and implementation of OeGAF will allow citizens, residents
and commercial establishments to experience the convenience of seamless integrated government services that involve different
government agencies.
The desired business outcomes of OeGAF are therefore as follows:
a) Better and Faster Government Services to Citizens and Businesses
Through standardised access to services, uniformed processes and integrated infrastructure, government services can be
improved, coordinated and delivered as one Oman Government. It is important that the IT standards and best practices act as
a catalyst and a foundation for all government agencies to integrate their IT infrastructure, applications and business processes
so that citizens, residents and commercial establishments interact to one and only one Oman Government.
b) More Efficient and Effective Oman Government
By adopting and adapting international IT standards and best practices, the interoperability within and among the various
government agencies can be improved. Better integration and collaboration among the government agencies will lead to the
delivery of more efficient and effective government services.
c) Optimise Resources and Investments
With standardisation, current resources and investments can be better leveraged and optimised. The architectural standards
will demand conformity and interoperability between current and new IT investments; thus reducing the risks of any future IT
investments.
Adopting the standards and best practiced outlined in OeGAF, government agencies will be able to enjoy the following benefits:
1. Strategic alignment of government service objectives and IT initiatives
2. Improved decision making and elimination of inefficient and redundant processes
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3. Enhanced Interoperability across the government agencies and improved capability for sharing important business related information
4. Consistent methodologies for collection, handling and presentation of business data
5. Rapid development of new applications and ease of modifications
6. A knowledge base of IT standards, best practices and related resources
7. Optimisation of the use of government IT assets
8. Streamlined procurement process and cost reduction
9. Improved adaptability to changing demands or business conditions
10. Improve customer service, achieve cost savings, and reduce complexity of IT systems
The implementation of OeGAF is also an important initiative to support the objectives of the following eOman Strategic Pillars.
OeGAF Identifies central or common IT systems
and infrastructure
National
Infrastructure Development
OeGAF identifies government functions for
streamlining, common business data for sharing,
and IT systems for integration and consolidation
Enhance
Government Performance
OeGAF outlines IT standards and best practices
to enable interoperability among government
agencies
Development of Standards
Policies, Procedures & Regulations
Figure 3: OeGAF achieves the eOman Strategic Pillars
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Q6
What is the output and structure of OeGAF?
OeGAF is a six part reference library of standards and specifications. The six parts are:
PART I. (Introduction to OeGAF) This part provides a high-level introduction to OeGAF, document structure of the reference models
of OeGAF, development and maintenance of OeGAF, considerations and recommendations matrix for standards in OeGAF,
checklist of standards in OeGAF and templates for standards’ change request.
PART II. (Business Reference Model) This part comprises two architecture elements, namely the government-wide lines of business
and the associated government functions performed by the Oman Government.
This part describes the different lines of business and the associated government functions of the Oman Government that
cut across the boundaries of different agencies.
PART III. (Solution Reference Model) This part comprises two architectural elements, namely the application design and development
technology domain and the application portfolio.
This part describes the common applications and application components that can be shared across the Oman Government.
It includes the technical standards and security considerations pertaining to the design and implementation of solutions and
applications.
PART IV. (Information Reference Model) The purpose of this part is to describe, document and communicate a framework to identify
and describe common and shared data.
This part lists the data definitions and data elements of common and shared data that are used across the Oman Government.
As part of the initial baseline scope, IRM describes the data pertaining to ‘Person’, ‘Establishment’ and ‘Land’ data hubs which
are commonly used by various agencies’ applications. It also defines technical standards, design and security considerations
and best practices related to the management of data.
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PART V. (Technical Reference Model) This part provides description of infrastructure technologies and their respective standards that
are grouped in the five domains namely, Data Centre, Network, Platform, Service Integration and Service Access.
This part defines the infrastructure technologies and their respective technical standards to enable better system integration
and interoperability across the Oman Government. It also defines the security considerations and standards related to the
infrastructure technologies.
The security considerations and standards for the four architectures of OeGAF are defined in the respective Reference
Models.
PART VI.(OeGAF Enterprise Architecture Development Methodology) This part provides a detailed methodology for development of
agency specific enterprise architecture.
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Q7
How will you receive OeGAF Standards Reference Library?
Government Agencies
• OeGAF Reference Library will be dispatched to your respective organizations.
Vendors
OeGAF Reference Library can be collected from ITA on submission of the following documents:
• Letter from authorized personnel from the senior management of your organization.
• Copy of Company Registration.
• Copy of Tender Board Registration.
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Q8
What do you need to do once you have the OeGAF Reference Library with you?
Once you have the OeGAF Reference Library, you are requested to acquaint yourself by going through the standards and specifications
in the following order.
Part I - Introduction to OeGAF
Part II - Business Reference Model
Part III - Solution Reference Model
Part IV - Information Reference Model
Part V - Technical Reference Model
Part VI - OeGAF Enterprise Architecture Development Methodology
In addition, ITA has created set of detailed FAQ’s in the website (www.ita.gov.om) which you can refer to in order to get yourself
acquainted faster.
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Q9
What is Compliance to OeGAF, How can you assess compliance levels of your
IT Systems with respect to OeGAF?
Compliance to OeGAF standards is all about assessing adherence of your IT Systems that include Infrastructure, Applications and
Information to industry standards that are specified in each of the respective architectures of OeGAF.
ITA has devised a OeGAF Assessment Tool Kit which will enable agencies to benchmark and conduct assessment of your agencies’ IT
Infrastructure and Systems with respect to OeGAF standards. ITA will assist you in conducting this assessment.
Q10
What assistance will be provided by ITA in adapting and adopting OeGAF?
Governance team at ITA has planned the following activities in order to assist government agencies in adapting and later adopting
OeGAF:
• OeGAF Reference Library will be made available to you.
• Conduct awareness sessions of OeGAF for government agencies to ensure that government agencies’ understand OeGAF and
its importance/benefits.
• A website where information regarding OeGAF Standards will be made available.
• Conduct maturity assessment of agencies with respect to OeGAF using OeGAF Assesment Tool Kit.
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Q11
Whom do you contact for further assistance?
Government agencies are requested to raise an official request to ITA with respect to assistance regarding OeGAF standards.
The Agency needs to follow the process as described in the ITA Service Catalogue - Advisory & Consultancy g Special Services g
OeGAF Standards and Policies. (AC - 5.3).
For general queries you can email us at “[email protected]”
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OeGAF Reference library
www.ita.gov.om