# Reference Models
Application Reference Model
It is acknowledged that public entities fall within different industries and therefore have different and unique requirements. These requirements inform the structure and arrangement of some of the attributes that respective entities have. As such, therefore, there will be different reference models for each industry / cluster.
One of the important reference models that will need to be developed for each cluster will be the application Reference Model.
The application reference model presents a structure view of the applications that each entity uses in relation to the business requirements. The model reflects core capabilities and the applications that are
used within and organization as well as the enterprise wide application needs which are viewed as organization enablers. Below is a diagram of a sample application reference model.
[](https://guidelines.risa.gov.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/fJqimage.png)
[](https://guidelines.risa.gov.rw/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/VFGimage.png)The top-level view of the model merely depicts the capabilities of respective applications per business / functional areas. Concealed within the top level view are the actual names of applications. While this diagram is important and conveys important information, the real value comes from the ability to conduct impact assessment for each application. This view provides a strong foundation for determining the extent at which an application is used within the environment.
Within *Sparx Enterprise Architect* and indeed any other repository-based enterprise architecture toolset, it is possible to select an artefact such as an application and view all other entities that are associated with it. In this case, the application reference model will enable decision makers to see the business areas and services that utilize a specific application. In that way, when change is being considered for any given application, decision makers are able to see the impact that change will have on all related business units and services.
##### **ESB**
Refer to the document *Government of Rwanda Enterprise Architecture ESB Reference Model.DOCX*
##### ***Security***
Refer to the document *Government of Rwanda Enterprise Architecture Security Reference Model.DOCX*