How does TOGAF define 'Architectural Governance'?

TOGAF defines 'Architectural Governance' as a framework for ensuring that architectural decisions align with established standards and objectives. This focus on alignment is critical, as governance acts as a bridge between the business strategy and the architecture of the enterprise. It ensures consistency across architecture development, compliance with regulatory requirements, and the alignment of architecture practices with the overall goals of the organization.

In the context of TOGAF, this framework encompasses the principles, policies, and practices that guide architecture decisions and their implementation. Architectural governance includes reviewing architecture deliverables to ensure they meet the organization's criteria and provide the necessary rationale for decisions made during the architecture development process. Thus, it ensures that the architectural landscape evolves in a controlled manner, adapting to changes while adhering to a structured approach.

The other options do not capture the essence of architectural governance as defined within TOGAF. While reviews of completed architecture projects are part of the governance process, they do not encompass the broader framework aspect. Assessing project risks is a vital practice but is not specific to governance. Lastly, stating that governance guidelines are solely for IT departments is misleading since architectural governance spans across the entire organization and involves various stakeholders, not just those in IT.