Digital Transformation Framework
A practical architecture for navigating uncertainty using the Six Pillars of Digital Transformation and the Open Digital Transformation Architecture (ODXA).
ODXA: The Architectural Backbone
The Open Digital Transformation Architecture (ODXA) is a vendor-neutral architecture that organizes transformation across five domains: Strategic, Organizational, Process, Digital, and Physical. Instead of chasing isolated projects, ODXA helps you align capabilities, technology, and mission outcomes in a coherent roadmap.
The Six Pillars of Digital Transformation sit on top of these domains. Each pillar represents a capability you can invest in, govern, and measure—from AI and data to edge, cybersecurity, computing, and communications.
On this page, you can explore how each pillar contributes to the overall architecture and where to start based on your current maturity.
Explore the ODXA Standard →How Domains and Pillars Converge
Convergence
- The ODXA domains provide the foundational structure.
- The Six Pillars provide the capability lenses.
- Transformation occurs when all pillars are integrated across all five domains.
- Each pillar should be traced through strategic intent, organizational accountability, process flow, digital enablement, and physical constraints to ensure completeness.
- Solutions emerge from the convergence of capabilities, not from isolated pillar investments, requiring architectural integration to manage tradeoffs and dependencies.
The ODXA Foundation
Every solution requires decisions across five universal domains:
- Strategic — Defining intent & outcomes
- Organizational — Establishing accountability
- Process — Managing the flow of value
- Digital — Enabling through platforms
- Physical — Accounting for hardware & sites
The Result: Solutions
A "Solution" isn't a single pillar. It is the integration of all six capabilities to deliver a durable mission outcome.
This prevents "AI-only" or "Security-only" silos, forcing a whole-system design approach.
The Six Pillars at a Glance
Artificial Intelligence
Enables systems to learn, reason, and assist decision-making through data-driven models embedded across digital and operational workflows.
Explore AI →Data Management
Governs how data is collected, integrated, secured, and used to drive insights and decisions across the enterprise.
Explore Data →Cybersecurity
Protects systems, data, and missions through Zero Trust principles, resilience, and continuous risk management across all domains.
Explore Cybersecurity →Ubiquitous Computing
Provides consistent, portable compute capabilities across cloud, on-prem, and emerging platforms, allowing workloads to run wherever they are most effective.
Explore Ubiquitous Computing →Edge Computing
Brings processing and decision-making closer to where data is generated to support low-latency, resilient, and mission-critical operations in constrained environments.
Explore Edge →Advanced Communications
Delivers secure, resilient connectivity so data, systems, and people can operate as an integrated whole, even across clouds and contested networks.
Explore Communications →How to Use This Framework
Keys to Success
- Start with mission outcomes. Identify the problems you must solve in the next 12–24 months.
- Map them to pillars. Determine whether AI, data, edge, cybersecurity, computing, or communications is the primary enabler—or which combination.
- Trace into ODXA domains. For each pillar, ask what must change in the Strategic, Organizational, Process, Digital, and Physical domains.
- Sequence your investments. Focus first on foundations like data, cybersecurity, and computing that unlock higher-level capabilities such as AI and edge.
- Iterate with feedback. Use telemetry, metrics, and human feedback to continuously refine your architecture over time.
Next Steps on Your Transformation Journey
Use the Six Pillars as a common language between business leaders, architects, and operators. From here you can dive into pillar pages, listen to interviews, or explore ODXA in depth.
Learn from Practitioners
Explore interviews with leaders who are using these pillars in real-world transformation programs.
Watch & Listen →See the 6 Pillars in Action
See how the Six Pillars combine across ODXA domains to deliver real mission outcomes and integrated solutions.
Explore the Pillars →See ODXA in Action
Go deeper into the Open Digital Transformation Architecture and how it structures complex modernization work.
Explore ODXA →Quick Mapping: Pillars Across ODXA Domains
Every pillar spans every domain. The pillar you “lead with” sets focus, but the domains ensure completeness. Use this as a reminder that capability work always includes strategy, organization, process, digital enablement, and physical realities.
| Domain | Ubiquitous Computing | Edge Computing | AI | Cybersecurity | Data Management | Advanced Comms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic | platform direction | mission constraints | value & guardrails | risk posture | data strategy | interop goals |
| Organizational | skills & ownership | operations model | roles & governance | accountability | stewardship | governance |
| Process | delivery pipelines | real-time workflows | workflow changes | controls in flow | data ops | service management |
| Digital | cloud/hybrid stack | distributed apps | data, models, platforms | identity & security services | pipelines & platforms | network services |
| Physical | compute footprint | devices, power, sites | deployment constraints | devices & environments | sources & collection | coverage & constraints |