There have been numerous articles and blog entries on SOA best practices, designing good services, and a robust supporting backbone. In fact, I have written extensively about these topics myself. But there is another side to the coin. Let's say that you've just embarked on a major SOA initiative for your (or your client's) organization. You are now faced with a myriad of questions. How will you avoid starting down the wrong path? How will you know when you are doing something that is about to get you into trouble by limiting your options in the future? How will you figure out that the SOA initiative that you have so lovingly started is about to create more problems than it can solve? Finally, and probably most importantly of all, how will you figure these things out in time to cut short this vicious cycle and get back on the right track?
