What do architecture artifacts help achieve in enterprise architecture?

Architecture artifacts play a crucial role in the development and implementation of enterprise architecture by providing structured documentation and visual representations of the architecture. They serve as tools that facilitate communication among stakeholders, ensuring that everyone involved—including architects, developers, business owners, and other stakeholders—has a clear understanding of the architecture.

These artifacts encompass models, diagrams, reports, and other documentation that convey the design, processes, and relationships within the enterprise architecture framework. By utilizing these artifacts, stakeholders can discuss and analyze architectural decisions, identify gaps, and assess impacts effectively, leading to better alignment between business objectives and IT solutions. Moreover, having a well-documented architecture helps preserve institutional knowledge and supports future projects or modifications.

In contrast, the other options refer to aspects that are not central to the primary purpose of architecture artifacts in enterprise architecture. Aesthetic design of buildings pertains more to architectural design in a physical sense, compliance with building codes relates to regulatory requirements in construction, and simplifying database management is a technical task rather than a communication or documentation goal of architectural artifacts.