The Solution and Service Architecture Relationship

Whilst we might have a particular specialization at Everware-CBDI in all things SOA, most of the system integration/delivery projects we are engaged on are still solution focused. The delivery of services, organized into a service architecture may be central to the solutions we deliver, and the reason for our engagement, but the end result is still a solution in the conventional IT sense.

Following the recent delivery of a solution architecture class, I produced a new eLearning module for our Service Architecture Practitioner Syllabus, and part of that module is explored in this post, where I examine the relationship between the solution and service architecture.

SOA in Context

SOA does not exist in isolation. Whilst it may be the centre of the universe for SOA aficionados, SOA is just part of a "bigger picture". That isn't to say that SOA can be marginalized. Far from it, as SOA is an important part of, and enabler of that bigger picture as the image below illustrates.