Architecture

PaaS & ETL in the Application Ecosystem

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Our conversation continues about the optimal mix of technology to support business process. In our last TechWise blog, "Living IT, QuickBase Leads The Way", we discussed the concept of Living IT and why organizations should plan for changing and dynamic technology. To elaborate further on this topic we want to introduce some ideas around what we refer to as the the Application Ecosystem and how technologies such as PaaS and ETL fit in.

The Impact of Making Product Choices

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:45:00 EDT

As part of my job, I help customers to select the appropriate software to either fulfill a need or as a component of a larger solution. Fulfilling this role means comparing similar software offerings and selecting the best fit. The challenge in this goal is to map the vendor offering into a subjective requirement, such [...]

Who's Architecting the Cloud?

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EDT

Will the cloud succumb to the same short-sighted, market pressure that doomed the ASP model and still plagues SaaS approaches? It’s not up to vendors to answer this question. It’s up to you … the enterprise architect.

Enterprise Architects: Saviors or Door Stops?

Thu, 28 May 2009 22:00:00 EDT

The challenge for EA is to be able to balance the long-term goals against the pressing short-term needs of the business. There are intense commercial pressures right now to reduce costs at a time when capital expenditure is severely constrained. Operational efficiency has become an imperative, but agility and speed to market are equally as important. How to reconcile the short-term needs with the long-term goals? Can they be done simultaneously? Can the architects bridge the two?

Cloud Computing and Your Enterprise Architecture and/or SOA

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:15:00 EDT

Cloud computing is not the savior of IT. It's nothing but a way to deploy your enterprise architecture in such as way that has the potential to be more productive and cost effective. In essence, it's a tool, not a way of life. It's not magic, it's not even new, but if approached correctly, could be a path toward efficiency.

SOA Vendors Focus Too Much on Integration . . .

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:15:00 EDT

We've all experienced the hype: "We're a SOA tool, and we're here to help!" However, most SOA vendors out there don’t understand the value of SOA, or even how to approach SOA. They focus on the tactical and not the strategic. Why? A tactical approach is easier for them to sell, and easier for them to understand. However, this approach means they are selling their customers short.

SYS-CON's Virtualization Conference & Expo: Themes & Topics

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EDT

From Application Virtualization to Xen, a round-up of the virtualization themes & topics being discussed in NYC June 23-24, 2008 by the world-class speaker faculty at the 3rd International Virtualization Conference & Expo being held by SYS-CON Events in The Roosevelt Hotel, in midtown Manhattan.

Should SOA and Good Architectural Governance Become a Corporate Responsibility?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST

While few will disagree that the inefficiencies of existing enterprise architectures have reached a critical level, many count on 'flying under the radar' of those who look at a company's efficiencies. Let's face it; enterprise architecture is very technical and difficult to understand by the layman. The well-publicized corporate scandals have focused on shady accounting practices and corporate mismanagement while IT has gotten a pass in years past. This will no longer be the case.

SOA World - Legacy Systems, The Risks & Misconceptions

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST

One of a CIO's top priorities is to leverage information to enable better business decisions and outcomes. Many CIOs trace constraints on their business back to the limitations of older legacy information systems - specifically, outdated applications. A legacy-based environment can make it difficult to attain the level of agility, flexibility, and responsiveness that growing enterprises need from their applications.

Avoid VDA! (Vendor-Driven Architecture)

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:45:00 EST

When looking at technology buying patterns in the world of SOA, there's one common thread. The Global 2000, and many government agencies, are purchasing from their existing vendors, no matter what the needs or requirements. I call these solutions purchasing 'comfort technologies' since they consider the relationship with the vendor more than the value of the technology itself. It's comforting to deal with the same company, people, and platform.

SOA - Loosely Coupled...What?

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:45:00 EDT

With the advent of Web services and SOA, we've been seeking to create architectures and systems that are more loosely coupled. Loosely coupled systems provide many advantages including support for late or dynamically binding to other components while running, and can mediate the difference in the component's structure, security model, protocols, and semantics, thus abstracting volatility.

SOA World Magazine "BPEL's Growing Up"

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:15:00 EDT

IT architectures have evolved to include process orchestration as a fundamental layer due in no small part to the emergence and widespread adoption of the WS-BPEL standard. WS-BPEL, also known as Business Process Execution Language or just BPEL, is a standard owned by OASIS that provides rich and comprehensive orchestration semantics. This article will provide a brief overview of how BPEL came to be what it is today and then focus on the latest developments in the BPEL standard and where we believe this standards area will go over the next few years. In particular some of the key areas for growth in this space include the standardization of human workflow support and better integration with process modeling and analysis tools and standards.

SOA-Based Inter-Organizational Architectural Framework For B2B Marketplaces

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:45:00 EST

B2B marketplaces facilitate efficient search and transactions by offering services such as buyer/supplier and product/services searches and transactions such as procurement and asset disposal.