A business capability is what a company uses to execute its business strategy (the implementation of initiatives and goals directed by the organization’s top management). A capability is an assembly of people, process, and technology for a specific purpose. Developing a business capability for identity and data governance is an essential part of an Identity Access Management Program. Several architecture components are essential to this capability:

Strategic Capabilities Architecture

The strategic capabilities architecture is based on the strategic vision of the company. The primary focus is current and future capabilities, needs, and budgetary constraints. For the company to sustain a competitive advantage over other organizations, remain compliant, and leverage complementary technologies while utilizing company investment in prior year purchases - defines the Enterprise Architecture on a global information systems perspective. The significance of the overarching framework within which the various levels of Information Systems (IS) development are considered: including Business Architecture, Information Architecture, Data Architecture, Systems Architecture, and Computer Architecture. Decisions relating to the development of IS initiatives are considered to be a part of the framework of various architectures. The investments in new IS-related initiatives such as BPR, Cloud/Hybrid computing, Big Data, and Distributed Databases need to be considered within this framework. The decisions related to strategy, business goals, information needs, data mapping, security, selection of products, selection of hardware and software need to be guided by this framework to ensure maximal effectiveness and efficiency for that organization.

Business Architecture

The Business Architecture evolves from the Strategic Capabilities Architecture. The organization defines its Business Strategy based upon its strategic vision of the organization's core competencies, interests, functions, goals, and capabilities that are defined by the Strategic Capabilities Architecture. The Business Architecture takes into consideration the businesses' strategy of the organization, its long-term goals, and the internal and external environment

Information Architecture

The Information Architecture is a map of the overall information needs of the organization based upon the organization’s Business Strategy. The Business Strategies of the organization are imparted into Information Systems Strategy through the process of planning, coordination, industry standards, and review. This process facilitates the coordination of the various concerns that relate to Planning, Quality Assurance, Departmental requirements, Information Sharing, Desired Outcome, etc. The organization's strategy is considered in terms of its objectives and constraints.  The Plan is used as a guide for the development of Information Architecture.