Real World SOA | David Linthicum

SOA Vendors Focus Too Much on Integration and Not Enough on Architecture

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-13T07:38:38-08:00

We've seen the hype: "We're a SOA tool, and we're here to help." However, most SOA vendors out there don't understand the value of SOA, nor how to approach SOA. They focus on the tactical, and not the strategic. Why? Because the tactical is easier for them to sell, and for them to understand. However, by doing that they are selling their customers short. Take integration, for example. We've understood how to do integration since the early days of EAI, and indeed it's clearly a component of SOA. However, integration, on its own, is not architecture. Thus, just binding systems... READ MORE

Looking at Enterprise Architecture

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-13T03:35:59-08:00

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People and SOA

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-06T05:51:30-08:00

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How to win with SOA ... finally, focus longer term

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-04T05:55:33-08:00

Finally, SOA is a long term solution. No ROI will come soon for the majority of enterprises that leverage SOA approaches and technology, thus the value will be understood in years, not months. This is an especially difficult concept when you consider that most American businesses operate quarter to quarter, and budgets and objects change monthly. Thus, longer term projects such as SOA, which are both complex and systemic, are difficult if not impossible to maintain over time in some organizations. What's needed is a much longer term outlook. The best advice is to get investment and commitment from the... READ MORE

How to win with SOA ... fourth, remember the people

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-04T05:54:32-08:00

SOAs are not built by computers; they are built and managed by people. As such, you have to consider the impact to the humans as well as the impact to the enterprise architecture. There are two places to focus here. First, focus on the SOA-ability of the people building the SOA. Second, focus on those who will be using the services and interfaces of the SOA. Those tasked with building a SOA need to have a firm grasp of traditional enterprise architecture, and the notion, approaches, and technology of SOA. For most organizations that's a tall order, and outside consultants... READ MORE

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How to win with SOA ... third, focus on understanding

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-04T05:53:15-08:00

While many may understand the notion of SOA by now, very few have any idea how to get there. Truth-be-told, there is no hard and fast rule as to how one builds an SOA in their organization. Clearly, SOA is a situational thing and your mileage may vary. However, some common patterns are emerging which may assist you in understanding how to implement SOA. Here are a few things to think about when building your SOA, and really where the rubber meets the road in terms of insuring your success…understanding your own issues and requirements. Understand your business objectives, and... READ MORE

How to win with SOA ... second, define the value

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-04T05:48:56-08:00

We implement SOA for two major reasons. First is the ability to save development dollars through reuse of services. These services may have been built inside or outside of the company, and the more services that are reusable from system to system, the more ROI from our SOA. Second is the ability to change the IT infrastructure faster to adapt to changing needs of the business. This, of course, provides a huge strategic advantage and thus allows for the business to have better chances of survival long-term. While determining the ROI on agility is difficult to figure out in hard... READ MORE

How to win with SOA ... first, understand the pain

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-04T05:48:19-08:00

I've been getting a lot of e-mails about this…Those seeking general advice around SOA, and how to win. Here's my best shot at that. Here are 5 surefire ways that, if followed, will make your SOA a success. They are: 1. Understand the pain. 2. Define the value. 3. Focus on understanding. 4. Remember the people. 5. Focus longer term. Understand the pain. In many modern global 2000 companies, the enterprise architectures are badly broken and hinder the businesses ability to change. For instance, a recent survey by the Business Performance Management Institute found that only 11 percent of executives... READ MORE

SOA issues are people issues: where have you heard that before?

Dave Linthicum — 2008-05-01T06:22:03-08:00

According to the Burton Group the issues around SOA are not as much about technology and complexity, it's about the people and the processes within an enterprise. Indeed, in this recent Network World article, some of these issues are highlighted. "'The state of the union of SOA right now is there's some fatigue set in,' Howard [Burton Group's Chris Howard] said, noting that when he recently asked an audience of 300 people whether their SOA efforts were going well, only a half dozen responded positively." "The problem's not technology, Howard said. People and processes are at the heart of what's... READ MORE

Report from the Web 2.0 Expo

Dave Linthicum — 2008-04-29T12:05:26-08:00

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