What does "Architecture Change Management" encompass in TOGAF?

Architecture Change Management within TOGAF encompasses managing architecture changes in a structured manner. This aspect is crucial because it ensures that any modifications to the architecture are made thoughtfully and systematically, minimizing disruption and maintaining alignment with business strategies and objectives. It involves processes that include assessing the impact of proposed changes, ensuring stakeholder engagement, and documenting decisions and actions taken throughout the change process.

By having a structured approach, organizations can better manage risks associated with changes, maintain the integrity of the architectural framework, and ensure that the architecture continues to support the business needs over time. This process also allows for continuous improvement as it allows organizations to refine their architecture based on learned experiences and practical outcomes from previous changes.

The other options fail to represent the principles of effective change management in architecture: uncontrolled changes lead to chaos, documenting changes is a part of the process but not the whole framework, and merely auditing for compliance does not address the proactive management and integration of changes into the architecture.