What document serves as the baseline for aligning IT projects within TOGAF?

The Architecture Contract serves as a critical document for aligning IT projects within TOGAF. It outlines the expectations and agreements between various stakeholders regarding the architecture results, ensuring that all parties understand their roles, the architecture's scope, and the responsibilities involved in the implementation of IT projects. This contract is pivotal because it facilitates communication and agreement between architects and project managers, ensuring that the architecture aligns with business needs and project requirements.

The Architecture Contract is intended to formalize the arrangement post-architecture development, ensuring that the architecture created during the Architecture Development Method (ADM) process is properly transitioned into implementation. It acts as a bridge between the architectural vision and the actual execution of IT projects, thereby creating a solid baseline that aligns ongoing projects to the broader architectural framework defined by TOGAF.

In contrast, while the Project Charter typically outlines the scope and objectives of a specific project, it does not inherently ensure alignment with the overall architectural vision. The Implementation Plan focuses on the execution strategies but may not directly address alignment with architecture as comprehensively as the Architecture Contract does. The Stakeholder Agreement concerns commitments and understanding among stakeholders, but it lacks the detailed architectural insights and directives that the Architecture Contract provides.