Component description

The following table describes the component types supported by AppFaktors.

Layer	Component	Definition
Strategy and Transformation	Business Objective	A business objective is a goal a company wishes to achieve.
	Value Stream
	Business Application	Business applications are the core entities in AppFaktors as they link business and technology. An organization uses a business application to support business capabilities and is developed and operated based on technical capabilities which are provided by technical components.
	Business Service	Business service refers to a service that delivers business capabilities of a company. Business services are logical entities.
Business Architecture	User Groups	User groups are consumers of business capabilities, either they consume or trigger capabilities to participate in a business process.
	Business Capability	It is the ability of an organization to achieve a specific outcome or objective. It is a combination of the people, process and technology that an organization needs to perform a task or function
	Business Process	Business process is a series of related tasks that result in a desired output; it is an established set of repeatable activities.
	Technical Capability	Technical capability refers to how an organization is able to use technology to support and enable the achievement of business goals and objectives
Application & Data Architecture	System	Represents an information system which is a collection of underpinning technical components to deliver certain functionality.
	Process	Process is a series of related tasks that result in a desired output.
	API	APIs are the interfaces delivered and consumed by application components. Functions like lambda and certain platform components can deliver and / or consume applications.
	Application	Application is a deployed and operational IT system that supports business functions and services; for example, a payroll. Applications use data and are supported by multiple technology components but are distinct from the technology components that support the application.
	Function	Functions are “self contained" modules of code that accomplish a specific task. Functions usually "take in" data, process it, and "return" a result. Once a function is written, it can be used over and over and over again.
	Platform	The collection of technology components of software that provide the services used to support applications.
	AI Agent	AI Agent represents automation agents for AI applications, They perform tasks by connecting to AI Models
	AI Model	AI Model represents LLMs. Large language models are AI systems capable of understanding and generating human language by processing vast amounts of text data
	Data	Data represents important information objects which are processed, stored and/or exchanged by specific applications or functions
	Data Store	A data store is a digital repository that stores and safeguards the information in computer systems. A data store can be network-connected storage, distributed cloud storage, a physical hard drive, or virtual storage. It can store both structured data like information tables and unstructured data like emails, images, and videos. Organizations use data stores to retain, share, and manage information across business units.
	Trust zone	Trust zone is a boundary where program data or execution changes its level of "trust," or where two principals with different capabilities exchange data or commands. It refers to any distinct boundary where within a zone all subsystems (including data) have equal trust.
Technical Architecture	SaaS System	Software as a service (SaaS) allows users to connect to and use cloud-based apps over the Network. SaaS is usually public, which is offered over the internet. There can be privately hosted SaaS where services are available only within a secure network.
	Application	The applications which can be deployed and accessed via UI or API.
	Function	Deployed functions mainly server less functions like Lambda etc.
	Platform	Application platforms which can be middleware or app platforms like Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, Microsoft 360, et cetera.
	AI Agent	Physical AI Agent represents An artificial intelligence (AI) agent refers to a system or program that is capable of autonomously performing tasks on behalf of a user or another system. AI Agents API Services provided by in house or custom apps.
	AI Model	AI Model represents LLMs. Physical Large language models represent popular COTS models like OpenAI, Claude etc or inhouse developed LLM endpoints
	Data Store	Deployed storage components like database, file storage, object storage, et cetera.
	Infrastructure	Physical or virtual hardware components which hosts platform and applications.
	Trust zone	Networks which are deployed and configured for access or the internet in general.