Technology Model
​Technology becomes transformative when it’s not just built to function—but architected to enable purpose, empower capabilities, and accelerate value at every turn.
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In this article:
What Is the Technology Model?
The Technology Model defines how applications and technology services enable business capabilities and support value delivery during a transformation.
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It introduces two core constructs:
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Application
A deployed software product or platform that supports one or more business capabilities (e.g., CRM, ERP, Billing System). -
Application Service
A logical service provided by an application that delivers a specific business or technical function (e.g., Customer Profile Management, Order Validation, Pricing Calculation).
Applications and application services are treated as foundational technology assets—stable references that can be reused across initiatives—while their usage and evolution are contextualized through transformation models.
Figure 8. Technology Model Illustration for AlignAir
Why Is It Important to Develop the Technology Model?
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Technology transformation often fails because:
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applications are discussed as monolithic systems rather than service providers,
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technology decisions are made without clear linkage to business capabilities,
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initiatives focus on tool replacement instead of value enablement.
This results in:
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over-engineered solutions,
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duplicated functionality across platforms,
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weak traceability between business intent and technology investment.
The Technology Model addresses these challenges by:
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separating what technology exists from how it is used in a transformation,
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positioning application services—not applications—as the primary enablers of capability,
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ensuring technology decisions are driven by capability and value needs, not tools.
Key Reasons to Develop the Technology Model
Align Technology with Business Capabilities
The Technology Model ensures that each technology component—whether an application or a service—is directly mapped to a specific business capability, enabling clear traceability from strategy to system.
Enable Modular and Scalable Architecture
By decomposing applications into services aligned to level-2 capabilities, the model promotes a modular architecture that is easier to scale, modernize, and integrate across platforms.
Support Reuse and Rationalization
It helps identify redundant or overlapping systems, enabling consolidation and reuse of services across the enterprise, which reduces costs and complexity.
Accelerate Transformation and Innovation
A clear Technology Model facilitates the adoption of emerging technologies (e.g., AI, cloud, APIs) in the context of strategic capabilities, enabling faster innovation with minimal disruption.
Improve Governance and Investment Decisions
With a capability-aligned view of applications and services, the model supports informed IT planning, funding, and portfolio management, ensuring investments are aligned with business priorities.
Enhance Agility and Time-to-Value
By modularizing services at the capability level, changes or enhancements can be made independently and incrementally, enabling faster delivery and adaptability to evolving needs.
Facilitate Business-IT Collaboration
The model provides a common language and structure for aligning business and IT teams around what needs to be built, why, and how it contributes to value delivery.
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How To Develop the Technology Model
The Technology Model is applied by defining a stable application landscape and aligning it to transformation needs through services.
1. Define Foundational Applications
At the enterprise level:
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identify Applications that represent deployed systems and platforms,
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treat applications as long-lived assets that evolve incrementally.
Applications provide context, governance, and lifecycle management for technology decisions.
2. Define Application Services
For each application:
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define Application Services that describe the discrete functions the application provides,
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keep services business-oriented rather than technical where possible.
Application services form the bridge between technology and business capability.
3. Align Application Services to Transformation Capabilities
During transformation:
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Transformation L2 Business Capabilities identify which abilities must be enabled or enhanced,
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Application Services are aligned to these transformation capabilities to show how technology supports execution.
This alignment ensures that:
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technology investments are capability-driven,
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changes are scoped to specific services rather than entire systems,
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modernization can proceed incrementally.
4. Use Technology Alignment to Guide Delivery
Aligned application services:
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inform feature and backlog definition,
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guide integration and modernization decisions,
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provide clarity on reuse versus build decisions.
Technology is treated as an enabler of value, not an end in itself.
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Alignment and Relationships
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The Technology Model integrates tightly with other AlignedX models:
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An Application provides one or more Application Services.
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An Application Service is provided by a single Application.
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Transformation L2 Business Capabilities are supported by Application Services.
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Features are implemented using Application Services.
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Data Entities are managed or consumed by Application Services.
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Experiences and processes are indirectly enabled through capability-aligned application services.
These relationships ensure that technology decisions remain traceable, modular, and value-aligned.
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Summary
The Technology Model ensures that technology transformation is intentional, modular, and business-driven.
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By:
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distinguishing applications from the services they provide,
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aligning technology services to transformation capabilities, and
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treating systems as enablers rather than objectives,
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the model enables organizations to modernize technology in service of value, not in isolation.