This document discusses how adopting a service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach can help organizations respond to economic pressures. While SOA is often touted for cost and efficiency benefits, these are not always realized. To be effective during downturns, SOA requires a balanced approach that streamlines application development and maintenance, enhances business visibility and responsiveness, and drives process automation and optimization, rather than just focusing on cost cutting. The document provides advice on taking a strategic yet tactical approach to SOA adoption by beginning with real project requirements, reviewing existing initiatives, managing expectations, and ensuring business impact is considered.

1. www.freeformdynamics.comSOA Benefits RevisitedAssessing payback in the downturnDale Vile, Research DirectorFreeform Dynamics Ltddale@freeformdynamics.comApril 2009

2. Economy is currently turbulent...... how should IT respond?

3. Firm foundationsHow well aligned are IT activities with business priorities?How do users generally feel about IT in your organisation?Source: Freeform Dynamics, Oct 2008

4. Maintaining controlEconomic pressureIT DEPT RESPONSENot just about cost cuttingNeed for balanced approachThink beyond IT operations

5. Relevance of SOAEconomic pressureStreamline app development and maintenanceIT DEPT RESPONSEEnhance business visibility and responsivenessEnable service prioritisation and user empowermentNot just about cost cuttingNeed for balanced approachThink beyond IT operationsDrive process automation and optimisation

6. What benefits do you expect or see from adopting an SOA approach?Cost and efficiency benefits often not appreciatedSource: Freeform Dynamics Ltd, 246 responses, Nov 2008

7. SOA EssentialsFundamentalEmphasis on ‘services’ rather than ‘systems’IT infrastructure dimensionComponent-based rather than monolithic softwareSelf-describing standards-based interfacesSOA tools and middlewareBusiness alignment dimensionCollaboration between IT and The BusinessComprehensive modelling of business servicesService oriented governance model

8. Three adoption constituencies InfrastructureAlignmentNoSOASOASOAInfrastructure SOA is the most common starting pointYields most of the efficiency based benefitsLess disruptive and faster time to benefitCan be implemented within the IT domain

9. Service prioritisation and rationalisationThe services view facilitates dialogue with the businessPermits prioritisation of capability deliveredOpportunities to wield the axe or reallocate resourcesDownturn benefitsUpturn readinessFocus in what’s important, what’s valuable

10. PracticalitiesStrategic and tactical approaches not mutually exclusivePure top-down has high risk of failure in current climateInfrastructure foundation laying important, but......work on real project requirements from the outsetBegin by reviewing existing and planned initiativesManaging expectations is keyNot a short term ‘magic bullet’ for IT efficiency/savingsInvestment in skills and software can lead to initial cost spikeEnsure that business impact is taken into considerationRight approach means returns measured in months, not yearsAdopt things in the right orderServices mindset, SOA skills/tooling, SOA infrastructureTalk to and involve the business!

11. www.freeformdynamics.comSOA Benefits RevisitedAssessing payback in the downturnDale Vile, Research DirectorFreeform Dynamics Ltddale@freeformdynamics.comApril 2009