The TOGAF Standard, 10th Edition: What’s New, and Why It Matters

If you’re an enterprise architect—or an IT leader who keeps tabs on architecture best practices—you’ve likely seen chatter about TOGAF 10. What exactly changed from the older 9.x series, and does it truly address the critiques many architects have had over the years? Let’s dive into what’s new and how it might reshape your architecture practice.

The Big Shift: A Modular TOGAF

The most striking move in the 10th edition is its modular structure. Past editions lumped nearly everything—methodology, governance, reference models—into a single monolithic document. Now, TOGAF is split into multiple parts and guides. Why?

Flexibility: Organizations can pick and choose the modules they need. If your enterprise only wants the core Architecture Development Method (ADM), you can adopt that piece without getting lost in tangential sections.
Reduced Overhead: If you’re a mid-sized business, you might skip the heavier governance modules. Larger enterprises with robust processes can dive deeper into advanced modules. In short, you tailor TOGAF, rather than letting TOGAF tailor you.

So Why Modular?

Historically, TOGAF® 9.x was seen as monolithic—some found it too large or prescriptive, while others appreciated its breadth but wanted more agility. TOGAF® 10 breaks down the framework into distinct modules (e.g., core ADM, reference models, specialized guides).

This modular design:

Encourages Tailored Adoption: Rather than adopting the entire framework, architects can select the modules most relevant to their immediate business needs—be it cloud architecture, data, or governance.
Eases Learning: Teams can focus on essential concepts first (like the Architecture Development Method, or ADM) before diving deeper into extended domain guides.

Clarity on Content: De-Cluttering and Re-Organizing

TOGAF 9.x had a reputation for being dense—sometimes repetitive in its coverage of phases, artifacts, and governance. The 10th edition attempts to streamline or re-label certain sections:

Refined ADM: The Architecture Development Method remains a cornerstone, but references to each phase are more modular and cross-linked, making it easier to adopt piece by piece.

Supplementary Guides: Specific domains—like technology architecture, information architecture, or security—are now separated into companion guides. This approach helps specialists (e.g., data architects) dive into relevant details without wading through general content.

The TOGAF documentation set anticipates emerging practice, specialist use-cases, and experimentation. The TOGAF Library provides a home for emerging practice and experimentation. The updated document structure of the TOGAF documentation set makes adoption of your optimal method easier.

Key Differences from TOGAF 9.x to 10

For busy architects, here’s a quick snapshot of notable contrasts:

Aspect	9.x	10th Edition
Structure	Single, bulky document	Modularized with segmented guides
ADM References	Interwoven, can feel dense	More cross-linking, focus on “usage”
Agile/Iterative	Mentioned, but minimal	Encouraged, with iterative examples
Specialized Domains	Embedded in chapters	Detached modules (e.g., security, data)

This table doesn’t capture every change, but it underscores the 10th edition’s desire to be more flexible and context-driven.

Real-World Benefits

By adopting the TOGAF 10 it can yield tangible outcomes:

Faster Decision-Making: With iterative governance, teams spend less time in rework or endless design debates.
Greater Alignment: Clearer, domain-focused modules ensure architects in security, data, or business architecture speak a common EA language.
Agility: By embedding architecture steps within sprints or DevOps pipelines, organizations maintain robust standards without a heavy bureaucracy.

Practical Tips for Adopting TOGAF 10

Start Small: Evaluate which modules or guides align with your immediate needs. If your biggest pain is around solution architecture standardization, focus on the relevant materials.
Map Old to New: If you’re coming from 9.x, identify the sections you relied on (e.g., Business Architecture) and see how they’re reorganized into 10th edition modules. This prevents confusion among your teams.
Pilot the Iterative Approach: If you’ve avoided TOGAF because it felt too heavy, test the waters by implementing an iterative version of the ADM. Gather feedback from developers, project managers, and product owners.
Align with Stakeholders: The new structure fosters easier communication with business leaders. Show them the relevant modules or “capsule” content that resonates with them (like high-level strategy or governance) without burying them in the entire framework.

Final Thoughts

Overall, TOGAF 10 marks a step away from one big “manual” toward a flexible set of resources. It’s clearly shaped by years of feedback—especially from architects who want something more agile, more modular, and easier to customize for real-world usage.

For organizations that found 9.x unwieldy, the new edition might be the impetus to revisit how TOGAF can guide them. By selecting the modules you need, embedding iterative governance, and harnessing domain-specific guides, you’ll likely find TOGAF 10 a more practical companion on your EA journey.

Stay Informed: Keep tabs on future module releases or revisions.
Adopt Iteratively: Avoid the monolithic “big bang.” Start with what solves your immediate challenges.
Focus on Outcomes: Whether you use half a dozen modules or just one, measure how they improve alignment, reduce rework, or clarify decision-making.

Yes, frameworks evolve, and so must we. TOGAF 10 might not be perfect, but it’s a meaningful leap toward helping architects build robust, adaptive architectures in an era where speed and flexibility reign supreme.