Can a component realize a service in Archimate 3?

Question

In the Archimate 3 Application Layer Metamodel there is no explicit realization relation between an "Application Component" and an "Application Service". However, in the example of section 12.3 there is such relation. How should I understand this?

Answer 1

Section 12.3 shows a derived relation implied from the metamodel so it is consistent.

Details: 1. The metamodel shows that a component can be assigned to a function which can realize a service. 2. Realization derive from (Assignation followed by Realization) 3. So a component can realize (derived) a service

Many (if not most) relations you will be using when working on real life examples will be derived, as you only want to show the concepts you are interested in.

Answer 2

New Answer to an old question, but there is a set of rules to follow when deriving relationships, as noted in the ArchiMate 3.0 Specification:

The structural and dependency relationships can be ordered by ‘strength’. Structural relationships are ‘stronger’ than dependency relationships, and the relationships within these categories can also be ordered by strength:

• Influence (weakest)

• Access

• Serving

• Realization

• Assignment

• Aggregation

• Composition (strongest)

So for example if oyu have an application component and an application service, you have a an Assignement between the application function and the application component and a Realization between the application function and the application function.

So to take out the application function, you have to represent the relationship between the component and the service by the weakest, which is the Realization in this case.