Implementing an SOA includes implementing a governance model that supports SOA. In fact, without a robust SOA governance model, an SOA implementation will not realize the benefits that the architecture has to offer. Without effective governance, an SOA project — no matter how big or small — will fail.
Effective governance through the IBM SOA Governance Management Method approachWhite paperAugust 2006
SOA governance-IBM's approach.
William A. Brown, Senior IT Architect IBM Enterprise Architecture & Technology CoE, SOA CoE
Garry Moore, Consulting IT Architect IBM Global Services
William Tegan, Associate Partner, Application Innovation IBM Global ServicesSOA governance-IBM's approach.Page
IntroductionContents SOA, or service-orientated architecture, has the potential to transform the way business and IT work together. It can bring enormous benefits to the business 2 Introduction that implements it correctly. SOA can increase business agility, decrease the 2 What is SOA governance? time it takes to get new products to market, reduce development and main-7 The impact of SOA governance tenance cost through the reuse of existing services, create new sources of on the SOA lifecycle revenue, and better align business and IT.9 How we engage with customers11 The IBM SOA Governance and Implementing an SOA includes implementing a governance model that supports Management Method offering SOA. In fact, without a robust SOA governance model, an SOA implementation 14 What are some of the best prac- will not realize the benefits that the architecture has to offer. Without effective tices around SOA governance? governance, an SOA project-no mater how big or small-will fail.
In this article, we will address issues related to SOA governance and outline IBM's approach to implementing a robust SOA governance model.
What is SOA governance?To understand what SOA governance is, we must put it in the proper context. We begin by defining and gaining a base understanding of governance, IT governance and SOA governance.SOA governance-IBM's approach.Page
Governance definedGovernance addresses the need for a mechanism to ensure that there is compliance with the laws, policies, standards and procedures under which an organization operates. Enterprises conducting business today are faced with a continuously changing business environment and a highly complex set of rules and regulations that require corporations to establish a governance model for their enterprise. Organizations must deal with a multitude of regu-lations, such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Patriot Act requirements, as well as the broad array of industry-specific regulations that make governance an essential element of any enterprise. To that end, we define governance as:
. Establishing chains of responsibility, authority and communication to empower people (decision rights) . Establishing measurement, policy and control mechanisms to enable people to carry out their roles and responsibilities
Governance, then, is assigning the rights to make decisions and deciding what measures to use and what policies to follow to make those decisions. The deci-sion rights are assigned to roles in the organizations, not to individuals; so, an aspect of governance is determining organizational roles.
Corporate governance, or enterprise governance, establishes the rules and the manner in which an enterprise conducts business, based upon its strategy, marketplace and principles of doing business. It defines for employees and for business associates the processes that are used to conduct operations and the manner in which people interact.SOA governance-IBM's approach.Page
Beginning with the board of directors and cascading throughout the organiza-tion, there are many aspects and levels of corporate governance. All aspects of the business are touched in some manner, from the human resources depart-ment to purchasing and marketing. Compliance, a key aspect of governance, is achieved by higher degrees of communication, comprehension and buy-in of all the stakeholders.
IT governance definedIT governance refers to the aspects of governance that pertain to an organiza-tion's information technology processes and the way those processes support the goals of the business.
IT governance represents a significant part of enterprise governance, and-given the horizontal nature of IT, where almost everyone in the enterprise uses IT assets to complete their responsibilities-it is also the most visible part of enterprise governance. Effective and ineffective IT governance can be assessed by employees rather easily.
IT governance defines a structure of relationships and processes to direct and control the ent... [download for more]
