Service Oriented Architecture Field Guide for Executives

Chapter 1. SOA PRIMER

You awake to the familiar buzz of your alarm clock and stumble out of bed and into the bathroom. With a flick of a light switch you are blinded by the bathroom light (unless you have one of those fancy bathroom lights that gradually brightens to allow your eyes to adjust). Later you plug in your coffee grinder, grind some fresh beans, and then brew a steaming pot of coffee. Throughout your morning routine, you use electricity. You use as much or as little of it as you need and you do so with little regard for how much electricity you have consumed that day, week, or month. Some weeks or months, travel and work schedule may dictate less time at home (and less electricity consumption); other days or weeks, you may consume much more. Electricity is a service. It is available on-demand based on a predetermined fee structure and is delivered consistently based on industry standards and regulated infrastructure. Electricity, like other utilities, is service oriented.