The role of service-oriented architecture as an enabler for enterprise architecture

Abstract

The adoption of Enterprise Architecture (EA) methodologies within organizations is causing an interest in the methodologies and supporting technologies available. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) supports EA in many facets. However, there is much suspension with regard to the relationship between EA and SOA within organizations as well as the guidelines that organisations should follow in order for SOA to enable EA. There are potential problems that may arise if this relationship between SOA and EA is not agreed to at the outset of implementing an EA. The purpose of this research is to investigate the guidelines that are needed for SOA to enable EA, in order to provide practical steps that organisations can use to begin aligning SOA and EA, ensuring that these initiatives are driven from a business perspective. A qualitative approach using a case study was used as a methodology for this research. The data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews, and the guidelines that were derived were validated through a survey that was distributed to industry architecture practitioners. The contribution of this research was a set of guidelines that can be used for SOA to enable EA. Further research areas were highlighted, including investigating the mapping of the guidelines that were derived from this research, into the EA frameworks that exist such as TOGAF and ZACHMAN.