Organizing a TOGAF® in house training means having the training tailored for a group of employees within your own organization, at a time and location of your choosing. This is a practical choice when several colleagues need to be certified at the same time or when the training needs to align closely with your organization’s architecture practice. The questions below will help you prepare step by step.
What are the benefits of an in house training compared to open enrollment?
A TOGAF in house training offers more customization, cohesion and cost efficiency than individual participation in an open group. The training takes place at a time that fits your organization’s schedule, the group consists solely of your own employees, and the trainer can directly link the content to recognizable situations from your own architecture practice.
This has concrete benefits. Participants not only learn the TOGAF method, but also immediately practice with issues that are relevant to their daily work. The shared context strengthens discussion among participants and helps concepts sink in faster. In addition, your organization builds a shared architecture language, which makes collaboration easier after the training.
Financially, an in house approach becomes attractive as soon as a group of five or more participants is trained at the same time. The cost per participant is then generally lower than with open enrollment, while travel time and scheduling inconvenience for individual employees are eliminated.
How many participants are needed for a TOGAF in house training?
For a TOGAF in house training, a minimum group size of five to eight participants is required in most cases. This is the point at which the cost per participant becomes comparable to or lower than with open enrollment. In practice, the upper limit is around fifteen to twenty participants, depending on the desired level of interaction and guidance.
Smaller groups can sometimes be arranged, but in that case it is wise to make the cost comparison carefully. A group of three or four employees may in some cases be better off joining an open training, unless alignment of the content with the organizational context outweighs cost considerations.
Also take the composition of the group into account. A homogeneous group, for example consisting solely of enterprise architects, allows for a different depth of content than a mixed group of architects, project managers and managers. Discuss this in advance with the training provider so that the approach and pace fit well.
Which TOGAF level suits your organization: Foundation or Practitioner?
The choice between TOGAF Foundation and TOGAF Practitioner depends on the role and the desired level of application of the participants. Foundation offers a broad introduction to the TOGAF standard and is suitable for anyone who wants to understand the architecture method. Practitioner goes further and focuses on actually applying the framework in practice.
When is Foundation sufficient?
Foundation is a good choice for managers, project managers and other stakeholders who regularly work with enterprise architects but do not lead architecture projects themselves. This level provides enough knowledge to understand, assess and support architecture decisions. A TOGAF knowledge level test can help to map out participants’ starting level in advance.
When is Practitioner necessary?
Practitioner is the appropriate level for enterprise architects, solution architects and architecture consultants who actively use the TOGAF method. This level tests the ability to apply the method to realistic architecture problems. Organizations that want to embed the TOGAF approach in their architecture practice almost always choose a combined Foundation and Practitioner training.
How do you adapt the training content to your organization’s context?
You adapt the content of a TOGAF in house training to the organizational context by holding an intake meeting with the trainer or training provider before the training. In it, you map out the architecture maturity, the existing ways of working and the participants’ specific learning questions. Based on this, the trainer adapts examples, cases and exercises to your organization’s situation.
Concrete adaptations may include: using architecture principles or models that the organization already applies, discussing ongoing transformation projects as practice material, or adjusting the order of topics to the most urgent issues. This makes the training recognizable and directly applicable, without jeopardizing the accreditation or exam preparation.
It is important that the core content of the TOGAF standard remains intact, because at the end of the training participants take the official Open Group exam. Customization lies in the context and the examples, not in omitting exam-relevant components. For more background, also read the introduction to the TOGAF standard.
What are the practical steps to plan a TOGAF in house training?
Planning a TOGAF in house training follows a number of clear steps: determine the target group and the desired level, take stock of the number of participants, select an accredited provider, hold an intake meeting, choose a date and location, and arrange the exam administration. You will find the steps outlined below.
- Determine the target group and level. Establish which employees will participate and whether Foundation, Practitioner or a combination is most suitable.
- Take stock of the number of participants. Confirm that the group size is sufficient for an in house approach and coordinate this with the provider.
- Select an accredited training provider. Choose a provider that is officially accredited by The Open Group, so that exam preparation and certification are guaranteed.
- Hold an intake meeting. Discuss the organizational context, the participants’ level of knowledge and the desired adjustments to the training content.
- Choose a date, format and location. Decide whether the training takes place in a classroom at your own location, at the provider’s location or in a live online format.
- Arrange the exam administration. Agree on how and when participants take the official Open Group exam and whether exam vouchers are included in the offer.
The TOGAF quick start guide can help participants familiarize themselves with the basic concepts before the training.
How do you ensure that TOGAF knowledge sticks in the organization after the training?
TOGAF knowledge sticks after the training when participants can apply the method directly in their daily work, when a shared architecture language emerges within the organization, and when there is room for reflection and guidance afterwards. A training without follow-up steps rarely leads to lasting change.
Some effective measures to promote knowledge retention:
- Link the training to a concrete internal architecture project that participants can pick up directly after the training using the method they have learned.
- Appoint an internal point of contact, such as a lead architect or architecture coach, who can answer questions and safeguard the application of the TOGAF method.
- Organize recurring knowledge sessions or working groups in which participants exchange experiences and deepen their understanding of the method.
- Make use of available reference materials and the frequently asked TOGAF questions to refresh knowledge when needed.
- Consider additional coaching or consultancy for teams that want to embed the TOGAF approach in broader transformation projects.
The combination of a well-prepared in house training and targeted follow-up steps ensures that the investment in certification actually pays off in the organization’s architecture practice.
How The Unit Company helps with organizing a TOGAF in house training
The Unit Company provides fully accredited TOGAF in house trainings for organizations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and delivers in house trainings worldwide. The approach is focused on customization: from the initial assessment of the learning needs to the exam administration and any guidance afterwards.
- Accredited TOGAF training at Foundation, Practitioner or combined level, tailored to the organizational context.
- Experienced trainers who, alongside their role as trainer, actively work as an architect or consultant, directly connecting theory and practice.
- Flexible formats: classroom training on location, live online or a combination of both.
- More than 98% of participants pass the official Open Group exam on their first attempt.
- Support with planning, the intake meeting and aligning the training content with your organization.
Would you like to know what a TOGAF in house training can mean for your organization? View the full offering on the TOGAF in house training page and get in touch for a no-obligation conversation.