Capability Model vs. Operating Model: The Enterprise Architect's Dilemma

Enterprise architects are frequently asked to choose between building a capability model and designing a target operating model — as if these were competing approaches to the same problem. They are not. A capability model and a target operating model answer fundamentally different questions, operate at different levels of abstraction, and are most powerful when used together. This guide explains the relationship, the differences, and the practical decision framework for knowing when to use each.