Service-oriented architecture is part of nearly every technology consulting engagement among the 17 leading professional services firms, according to an IDC study. "Worldwide SOA Professional Services Vendor Analysis" indicates that service firms, which pioneered SOA, are preparing to address a market opportunity that is both growing quickly and expanding, even as the approach to engagements changes. "SOA is becoming so ubiquitous that it is finding a place as a significant feature of every service that is being offered to customers" in consulting engagements, says Marianne Hedin, program manager for worldwide services research and coauthor of the report. According to Hedin, most of the surveyed service vendors indicated that SOA is a core element of their portfolios. This emphasis, along with the increase in scope and complexity of the engagements, leads IDC to conclude, "Partnerships are essential in order to successfully deploy SOA."
