One surprising but intriguing sign that service-oriented architecture (SOA) is finally entering the mainstream is the increasing number of lawsuits over the perceived failure of SOA implementations. Here's the scenario: enterprise hires large consulting firm to implement SOA. Large consulting firm uses their small handful of SOA experts to sell the deal, but brings in the large team of wet-behind-the-ear college grads to do the design as well as the implementation. Enterprise is unhappy with the result, and sues consulting firm, claiming they paid for SOA, but didn't get it.
The reason ZapThink is tuned into this trend is actually quite fascinating: needless to say, the lawyers for the plaintiffs need someone who can step in as expert witnesses and say definitively what SOA is, and more importantly, what it is not. And where better to turn than ZapThink? Believe it or not, this is a growing part of our business.
