The Preliminary Phase is the phase in TOGAF where an organization establishes or enhances its Enterprise Architecture Capability. This includes defining governance structures, roles, responsibilities, processes, tools, and architectural principles. The objective is to prepare the organization to successfully execute the ADM.

Phase A focuses on Architecture Vision for a specific initiative, not on creating the overall EA capability. Phase G deals with implementation governance, and Phase H focuses on architecture change management. None of these phases are responsible for establishing the EA practice itself.

The Preliminary Phase answers foundational questions such as how architecture will be governed, who owns architecture decisions, how compliance will be enforced, and how architecture work will be integrated with other organizational processes. Therefore, creation of an Enterprise Architecture Capability clearly belongs to the Preliminary Phase.