Home // MODERN SYSTEMS 2025, International Conference of Modern Systems Engineering Solutions // View article


Rethinking the Role of Department of Defense Architecture Framework in System-of-Systems Architecture Design

Authors:
Zhemei Fang
Yuxuan Liu
Jianbo Wang

Keywords: architecture design; department of defense architecture framework; system-of-systems; misconceptions

Abstract:
While Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) remains widely adopted for architecture modeling, its application to System-of-Systems (SoS) design still faces significant challenges according to feedbacks from practitioners in industry and academia. Existing research often focuses on model creation or tool support but lacks a comprehensive examination of the issues behind the unsuccessful applications. Thus this paper analyzes the root causes of unsuccessful DoDAF applications, including the perspectives of common misconceptions, inherent shortcomings, methodological inadequacies, limitations of modeling tools, and cultural and organizational barriers. Based on the challenges observed, we further explore how the Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) and SysML 2.0 could alleviate some of these limitations. Based on this analysis, we propose three improvement directions: iterative, process-driven architecture modeling, AI-assisted model generation and evolution, and domain-specific meta-model customization with consistency assurance. The study concludes that treating architecture models as evolving decision-support tools, rather than static documentation, significantly enhances their value in SoS design and provides actionable guidance for improving DoDAF and other architecture frameworks in practice.

Pages: 9 to 15

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2025

Publication date: October 26, 2025

Published in: conference

ISBN: 978-1-68558-316-3

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Dates: from October 26, 2025 to October 30, 2025