Understand the class model
The data captured in Alfabet FastLane is based on a class model. Every "object" such as an application, component, vendor, etc. is an instance of an object class. For example, an application is an instance of the class Application. Object classes are preconfigured by Software GmbH.
Every object has a set of standard attributes that can be specified. For example, an application has mandatory attributes such as Name, Version, and Release Status. There are many other standard attributes that allow the application to be described.
Some of the attributes will be references to objects in other classes. For example, the class Application has a reference to the class Application Group, which indicates that the application belongs to the application group. For an overview of the standard attributes and references for applications, see Data requirements for the class Application.
A user may also create custom attributes for most objects to reflect the circumstances of the IT landscape in your company. Other attributes such as Data Quality Score, Data Quality Severity, and Data Quality Calculation Date are automatically generated to track gaps in data quality and are available for all object classes in Alfabet FastLane.
At the center of Alfabet FastLane are applications which are products that provide the business with functionality.
Many technological components such as operation systems, databases, and web servers are used to build the application. An application supports the business to fulfill its high-level business objectives, referred to as business capabilities. Whether your company captures how applications support business capabilities or business processes will depend on your company's methodology. Organizations use applications to fulfill the business's objectives. Further, the application transfers business data to other applications via information flows.
For example, CRM CSS is an application for customer relationship management and customer self- service. The components Apache Web Server, Oracle Database, Red Hat Enterprise Linux,and Microsoft Internet Explorer are used to build the application CRM CSS. The CRM CSS application enables the company's mission critical business capabilties Contact Management and Sales Management and the organization Marketing and Sales use the application CRM CSS to fulfill their business objectives. The application transfers the business data Customer, Benefit, and Claim Payment to other applications via information flows.