SOA cannot be purchased and drop-shipped into an IT shop with magical overnight results. Implemented wisely, SOA can be a transformative force in the organization, but that transformation can be a lengthy process. Along the way, many valuable benefits of SOA will be gradually realized, but only if appropriate governance processes are implemented to support the resultant culture shift. (Read more on the hype surrounding SOA.)
Anne Thomas Manes, vice president and research director at Burton Group and an SOA thought leader, is adamant: "SOA is something an organization does ... and it is more about culture than it is about technology. SOA requires a different mindset, and it requires discipline." Adopting this discipline has great advantages, including:
