The question is, can we see it? If this article is anything to go by the answer would be no.
SOA is an approach to building systems, it certainly couldn’t be called a style (much to the annoyance of some) but it sure isn’t a technology.
And this is the problem – so many view everything to do with building systems as being about deploying the right technologies rather than adopting an approach and driving technology selection from there.
No surprise then that SOA adoption is isolated to small parts of various businesses – that’s the maximum level of use that can be achieved whilst it is treated as a technological shift. Change across the entire business is essential for SOA to get real traction – systems shouldn’t be viewed as necessary evils that cost, rather they should be considered as means for delivering enhanced business value. Processes and culture are the real challenge not hardware and software.
IT/Systems Development needs to be considered a first class citizen within an organization rather than simply the poor cousin that mops the floors and cleans the toilets. Fewer conversations like "here’s what we want" and more discussion around "here’s what we’re trying to do, how can you help?". Switched on readers may notice an interesting parallel with Web vs Enterprise….
Web is (amongst other things) about enabling users and agents to do interesting (interconnected/social) stuff more effectively, whilst Enterprise is often treated as little more than automating laborious tasks with strict controls. Loosely coupled versus tightly coupled, granular and cooperative versus monolithic and uncooperative.
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