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Capability Map Diagram

capabilities; business capability map

Updated over 3 weeks ago

The Capability Map is a new diagram type in Elements that helps business architects and system designers visualize and structure business capabilities. It's a high-level mapping tool that supports strategic alignment and links directly to lower-level operational and system views.

What is a Capability Map?

A Capability Map illustrates what a business does, independent of how it does it. It is ideal for:

  • Visualizing business functions and capabilities

  • Aligning business and IT strategy

  • Mapping out areas of responsibility and ownership

  • Identifying opportunities for system improvement or investment

Each capability can include additional attributes and documentation to provide context and clarity.

Who is this feature for?

This diagram type is especially useful for:

  • System Architects: To align systems with business strategy

  • Business Analysts: To break down and analyze business functionality

  • Enterprise Architects: To plan transformation initiatives

Prerequisites

How to Create a Capability Map

To create a Capability Map:

  1. Click the "New" button in diagrams menu, then "Create blank diagram", and then select "Capability Map" from the list of diagram types. Then click next.

  2. Give your diagram name and description to capture intended scope.

Supported Card Types

The canvas includes two default card options (but you can add or remove attributes to either of them at will)

  • Full Card: Includes attributes and a description field.

  • Simplified Card: A compact version for clean, high-level overviews.

💡Tip: You can add attributes like "Owner", "Maturity", or "Criticality" to capability cards for richer analysis.

Drill Down to Detailed Diagrams

Each capability card can have a child diagram with more detail. Supported drill-down types include:

  • Another Capability Map (for hierarchical modeling)

  • Interaction Flow

  • System Architecture

  • Business Process

  • Customer Journey

  • Data Model

This allows you to move seamlessly from strategy to execution.

📘 Example: A “Customer Management” capability card might drill into a Customer Journey Map or CRM system architecture.

Best Practices for Building Capability Maps

To get the most out of your diagrams:

  • Use consistent naming conventions for capabilities.

  • Limit levels of hierarchy to improve readability.

  • Add clear documentation so your team can understand context without needing to ask.

  • Use drill-downs to avoid cluttering the main map with too much detail.

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