Drivers for SOA Integration

All modernization projects should always begin with a clear understanding of the business drivers of a modernization initiative. It does seem a bit obvious to make this statement, yet many managers embark on technology projects for technology's sake. With respect to SOA integration, we have outlined several different types of methods, none of which is mutually exclusive or without planning, efforts, risks, or costs. So, to understand which path one needs to take, it is important to discover what the drivers are for your business.

In a recent survey by MetaGroup, CIOs were asked about the critical drivers for their modernization initiatives.

There are several key factors that are currently driving today's legacy modernization efforts. The following is an overview of just some of the driving factors that you should consider when understanding business objectives for any modernization project.

With the legacy systems taking up a majority of IT budgets today just for maintenance, technology is becoming less of a differentiator and more of a deadweight. In 2006, Forrester surveyed CEOs, and asked if their IT departments enabled innovation, or were a stumbling block for innovation. The survey revealed that a vast majority of the surveyed CEOs said that IT was an inhibitor of innovation. This was predominately attributed to the dedication of a high percentage of IT budget to maintenance rather than to new features, and the lack of (IT's) agility. The good news is that SOA can help organizations become a source of accelerated innovation rather than hold them back. The following is a chart on how SOA can be a value accelerator for the business: