If you ask 10 CIOs to define service-oriented architecture (SOA), you'll likely get as many different answers. Most, however, would know that it's about breaking down their software infrastructure into smaller, reusable building blocks to make application development cheaper and faster.
And Chris Curran has some advice for CIOs considering moving to an SOA: Make sure you build on solid foundations.
"SOA adds a whole new level of complexity," said Curran, chief technology officer (CTO) of Diamond Management and Technology Consultants in Chicago. "You have to have solid capabilities in project delivery and governance if you're going to handle integrating multiple services. Otherwise you're likely to fail."
