NOV-1 is used to depict the "big picture" of the operational context of the architecture. It describes capability and highlights the main operational nodes (see NOV-2 definition) and interesting or unique aspects of operations. It provides a description of the interactions between the subject architecture and its environment, and between the architecture and external systems. A textual description accompanying the graphic is crucial. Graphics alone are not sufficient for capturing the necessary architecture data.

This subview addresses people wanting to have a general understanding of the architecture but who have no experience in modeling or architecture methods. The aim is therefore to be able to transfer the main purpose of the architecture without the need for a formal description. This is why this first level of architecture explanation uses external documents and notes and not formal models.

Another source of general information is the repository items cited in the texts of the architecture. Dropping any item in an object text automatically creates a link between the referencing object and the cited item. The list of all cited items can then be used as starting points to a deeper study of the architecture. This list only contains the cited objects and users cannot directly insert new items. It is therefore read-only.