CEA-C01 study plan
CEA-C01 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
EA Concepts and Framework Basics & Framework Models, Views and Implementation
Define enterprise architecture in your own words and contrast it with solution and segment architecture
List the core EA vocabulary terms and write a one-line definition for each from memory
Explain how an EA framework organizes artifacts, views, and stakeholders into a coherent whole
Map the major framework families (Zachman-style, TOGAF-style, federal/segment models) by their organizing metaphor
Your checkpoint
A one-page glossary of 20 EA terms plus a comparison table of at least three framework families
EA Concepts and Framework Basics & Framework Models, Views and Implementation
Trace how an architecture framework moves from concepts to viewpoints to models to artifacts
Distinguish architecture views from viewpoints and explain why the distinction matters to stakeholders
Identify which stakeholder concerns each standard viewpoint addresses
Sketch the relationship between baseline, transition, and target architectures
Your checkpoint
A viewpoint-to-stakeholder matrix covering at least six viewpoints with the concern each one resolves
Framework Models, Views and Implementation & Planning for Architecture Development and Use
Describe the phases of a typical architecture development cycle and what each produces
Explain how architecture governance bodies review and approve work products
Draft a scope statement that bounds an architecture engagement
Identify the inputs an architecture effort needs before modeling begins
Your checkpoint
A one-page scope and governance brief for a fictional organization's architecture engagement
Planning for Architecture Development and Use
Write architecture principles that are testable rather than aspirational
Build a stakeholder map that records influence, interest, and concerns
Sequence architecture work into phases with explicit dependencies
Estimate effort and identify risks for a planning cycle
Your checkpoint
An architecture planning package containing five principles, a stakeholder map, and a phased work breakdown
Planning for Architecture Development and Use & Architecture Modeling, Analysis and Integration
Translate business drivers into architecture requirements and constraints
Select modeling techniques appropriate to each architecture domain
Draft a requirements traceability chain from driver to requirement to model element
Identify gaps between baseline and target states
Your checkpoint
A traceability table linking at least five business drivers to requirements and to the models that satisfy them
Architecture Modeling, Analysis and Integration
Build a simple business-process and capability model for a case organization
Model data entities and their relationships at a conceptual level
Model application components and their interactions with business services
Model technology infrastructure that hosts the application layer
Your checkpoint
A four-layer model set (business, data, application, technology) for one coherent case scenario
Architecture Modeling, Analysis and Integration
Apply gap analysis to compare baseline and target architectures
Evaluate architecture options against weighted criteria and justify a recommendation
Assess the impact of a proposed change across all four architecture domains
Identify integration points and conflicts between architecture segments
Your checkpoint
A gap analysis and options-evaluation memo with a scored recommendation
EA Concepts and Framework Basics & Framework Models, Views and Implementation & Planning for Architecture Development and Use & Architecture Modeling, Analysis and Integration
Synthesize all four domains into a single end-to-end architecture narrative
Rehearse explaining framework choices, planning decisions, and models to a non-specialist audience
Complete timed practice sets weighted to your weakest domain
Review and correct every missed item until you can state the reasoning unaided
Your checkpoint
A full timed practice exam scored above 80 percent, plus a corrected error log
Milestones
Week 2: Can define 20 core EA terms and explain the view/viewpoint distinction without notes
Week 4: Can produce a scoped, governed architecture plan with principles and stakeholders in under 90 minutes
Week 6: Can build a four-layer model set from a written scenario without reference material
Week 8: Scores 80 percent or higher on a full timed practice exam spanning all four domains