Symbol, Icon or Visual Representation of Element

[Stoppy]

Hi All,

I am using Archimate to build a model for some key stakeholders in my organisation. All has been going well using the Services, Functions, Product elements to build out the view which provides the visual representation and icons.

We have now had some government and financial based stakeholders come into the picture and grappling with language. For example, a Product is called "Services" and Services is called "Suboutput". Not All products and services need to be represented this way.

I already using the legend to represent the size of each element, ie. Small, Medium, Large.

So my question, is there a way I can use another a symbol, icon or some other visual representation on these elements to satisfy my stakeholders.

At worst case scenario, I was going to update the text for each element and put in brackets the relevant description:

Example:

Product "My Product is a Secret (Service)"

Please note I am using the EA user interface only.

Regards,

Stoppy  

[qwerty]

Color?  

q.

[ken.norcross]

Search for an ebook called "Mastering Archimate", by Gerben Wierda.

He recommends always adding the type in square brackets to every element name. I like this style, especially for an audience that doesn't read archimate modesl every day, which is probably most of our audience.

His models look great and I agree they are more easily understood with the reminders of what you are looking at, but I still hate the idea of adding that fluff to the actual name in the model.

It's a trade off.

[KP]

Search for an ebook called "Mastering Archimate", by Gerben Wierda.

http://masteringarchimate.com/

[Stoppy]

Color?  

q.

Thanks qwerty, I am already using color via the legend to represent size of the element when we build out the next layer of detail.

He recommends always adding the type in square brackets to every element name. I like this style, especially for an audience that doesn't read archimate modesl every day, which is probably most of our audience.

Thanks Ken, yeah the out of the box elements are helping with the little archimate symbols and I have a several elements at the top of the model with text description to help describe what the element represents which is meeting the existing stakeholders needs.

Your suggestion was my last resort, for a stakeholder perspective it will meet the new stakeholders needs, from a cosmetic perspective I will have to live with it.

The stakeholders needs are more important  

Thanks for the replies and thanks for the link KP, good resource.

Regards,

Stoppy