TBM Taxonomy Extensions

Extensions enable organizations to model their solutions and services more precisely—while staying aligned with TBM standards. They are governed by the TBM Council and produced in partnership with Strategy Communities representing key sectors.

What Is a Taxonomy Extension?

A Taxonomy Extension is a formal addition to the TBM Taxonomy. Most current extensions focus on the Solutions Layer, tailoring it to reflect the products, services, and applications used within a specific industry.

Each extension:

• Adds or modifies industry-specific solutions, products, or services
• May replace default Solutions Layer elements to ensure greater accuracy
• Remains compatible with TBM Taxonomy 5.0 and recent prior versions
• Enables custom models that align with TBM standards

In TBM Taxonomy v5.0, contributors may also propose extensions to other layers—such as tagging extensions that introduce standardized attributes or labels for use across Towers or Solutions.

When to Use or Propose a Taxonomy Extension

You should consider using an existing extension if:

• Your organization operates in a specialized or regulated industry
• You need to align with industry-specific services or products
• You’re conducting benchmarking or value analysis with sector peers

You might propose a new extension if:

• Your industry uses common solutions or products not well represented
• You encounter challenges modeling emerging or niche capabilities
• You want to promote a standard framework for your industry

Taxonomy Extension Toolkit

The Taxonomy Extension Toolkit provides everything you need to create a new extension or revise an existing one. It includes templates, examples, and detailed instructions to help you produce a standards-aligned submission for review and approval by the TBM Council.

Toolkit contents include:

• A step-by-step instruction guide
• A Word template for the extension whitepaper, with structured sections and automation support
• A PowerPoint template for creating Solutions and Type diagrams
• A CSV template for the complete taxonomy table
• A promotional content form used by the TBM Council to support publication
• Example outputs of each required item to guide your development and formatting

The toolkit is designed to support both original extensions and updates to previously published ones, and is aligned with TBM Taxonomy v5.0 and recent prior versions.

Download the Toolkit (Members-only)
Two formats are available:

• Download the Toolkit (with macros) — includes automated formatting and diagram helpers
• Download the Toolkit (without macros) — for users in environments that restrict macros

To submit an extension, complete the toolkit templates and email all required materials to standards@tbmcouncil.org.
The TBM Council will review and collaborate with you as needed to finalize your extension for publication.

Available Taxonomy Extensions

The following finalized extensions are maintained by the TBM Council. Each is available for download (login required) and includes diagrams, data tables, and a whitepaper describing how it augments the taxonomy.

All extensions are compatible with TBM Taxonomy v5.0 and recent prior versions.

Alignment with the TBM Taxonomy

All extensions are designed to:

• Work alongside TBM Taxonomy v5.0 and prior versions
• Replace or extend only the necessary components—typically the Solutions Layer
• Enable organizations to maintain a standard TBM model while adding relevant detail

As the taxonomy evolves, the TBM Council will update existing extensions using the new extension toolkit to ensure full compatibility with upcoming versions.