The latest architectural revolution to strike IT is service-oriented architecture. IT managers are not only excited about the promise of SOA, but also fearful of this new paradigm and the impact it will have on the organisation.
Here are four simple steps you can follow to ensure a smooth transition to SOA.
Define SOA
If you are implementing service-oriented architecture, the most important point to remember is that your IT organisation must have a clear understanding and definition of it. It's not critical that the IT industry reach a consensus on a definition. But it is vital that everyone in your IT organisation agrees upon exactly what SOA means to the company.
Train staff
For many companies, SOA is a radical departure from traditional architectures that are based on tightly coupled application interfaces. Consequently, there may be a steep learning curve to understanding SOA. Training and education are absolutely essential to flatten the curve.
Establish an Enterprise Governing Committee
The ultimate goal of SOA is to develop a flexible architecture that is capable of integrating disparate, heterogeneous applications through a common inter-face. This is accomplished through designing and developing application-independent services that can be accessed and shared across the organisation.
Think big, but start small
Last and most important, don't be overzealous in implementing SOA at first. It may take time. History has demonstrated that the big-bang approach in IT rarely works. Small, incremental changes have a greater opportunity for success because they are more manageable.
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