Dave- Well said. I think there is such an opportunity in the SOA space but as you have so well stated, the vendors lack of knowing how their product can solve business problems is becoming more of hindrance to client acceptance than creating demand for SOA.

I beleive the problem with SOA is that too many vendors are trying to hit a homerun instead of just getting on base. Just my 2cents!

Many of the opportunities for SOA for many companies, large and small are quite basic. If vendors tried to solve some of the very basic needs and help the clients realize the benefits of SOA they will move to use the technology in their more complex applications.

I think that most CIO's are talking SOA but everyone is trying to bite off more than they can chew, and it's becoming obvious not very many organizations have success stories that are applicable to many other organizations. I am curious what your other readers think! Anyone?

It's tough to communicate things honestly without using empty or eye-glazing buzzwords, and getting questions like What is SOA? from C-level people at big companies deserves an honest answer. There are different ways of talking about it, but for our app, which is essentially a code-free EAI(the code-free part is very important), we say you can build the Foundation of an SOA with automations and web services, and work with other applications. And asking about what your specific issues are is always a good idea. Having conversations and listening.

Customers get it! SOA is an attempt to preserve legacy systems. That's great if you want to drive down the road looking in the rearview mirror. The the majority of potential SOA customers are mired in the Mircosoft ecosystem and this only embeds them even more.

The best move is to Mac OS X where you can implement a myriad of Open Source, Unix or Mac solutions using today's and tomorrow's technology.

Look through the windshield - not the rearview.

Why pick on just SOA vendors? Indeed, is there any such thing as an "SOA vendor?" Remove SOA from the article, and it still holds true. But since SOA is the buzzword du jour, all articles must have the term I suppose.

It's also a pity that most product selections wind up picking the "least unacceptable" solution. :-)

David,

Very well said. I once had the opportunity to present at a conference - the one condition being it wasn't to be a product pitch. I got a hug by one audience member because I was the only one who gave a pitch that wasn't the prod pitch with the vendor's icons removed.

I often wonder:
1. Are products differentiable enough for customers (some, not all) to tell them apart when they are first making decisions and don't yet have experience in the space?
2. If everyone is "doing too much", can buyers take the time to listen, and sellers take the time to educate?
3. Working at a smaller vendor who tries to "speak to the problem", I find established vendors in the account often use "scare tactics" to prevent the sale -- through non-technical decision makers.

My point with these three questions are... is it possible to have a better world, like you expect. Or, is this just a function of "doing business". With the result being, some customers and some vendors will encourage each other and develop relationships like you and I suggest. Others, will get what they pay for (on both sides).

David