# BA-T03 — Cycles, decisions and change

Adrian Sutherland · Version 1.0 · Refreshed September 2026

© 2005–2026 Adrian Sutherland.
Source page: https://architectureportal.org/assets/business-architecture

Map the cycle to your actual method; several concerns can share one meeting or record.

## Process areas

A Simple Architectural Framework (ASAF) describes four continuing areas of work.

Map the work to your actual stages and reviews. Areas may share a review or
repeat at different scopes. Keep the accepted starting point between cycles.

| ASAF process area | Question | Your activity, owner and retained record |
|---|---|---|
| Visioning | What future outcome and qualities should this change serve? | [fill] |
| Transforming | What changes, checks and handover are required? | [fill] |
| Operating | How will the result be run, supported and observed? | [fill] |
| Governing | Who accepts decisions, exceptions and any wider reconsideration? | [fill] |

## Trigger and accepted starting position

- Decision ID, scope and trigger: [fill]
- Accepted purpose, definitions, constraints and baseline: [fill]

## Methodology configuration

- Your method's activities, stages or reviews for these decisions: [fill]
- Terms and records used for the handover: [fill]
- Cycle concerns combined or split: [fill]

### Dials

- Cadence and batch size: [fill]
- Coordination and decision authority: [fill]
- Automation and required checks: [fill]
- What learning can change locally or at wider scope: [fill]

## Options and judgement

- Options and their affected scope: [fill]
- Trade-offs, assumptions and basis for claims: [fill]
- Decision, reason, status and accepting authority: [fill]

## Retain, change and check

- Affected records and relationships: [fill]
- Decisions and information that remain accepted: [fill]
- Checks, expected result and actual result if available: [fill]
- Receiving owner, handover and support information: [fill]
- Next review trigger and unresolved questions: [fill]

## History

- Version, date, proposal/acceptance status and decision owner: [fill]
- Earlier decision retained and reason for revision: [fill]
- Treatment of relevant concerns outside scope, absent or unknown: [fill]