Benefits and Challenges of Service Oriented Architecture for IT Systems in South Africa
Date
2012-12-04
Authors
Allan, Brendan Gerrard
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Abstract
This research considers the value of Service Orientated Architecture (SOA) initiatives, which have high initial costs, but potential long-term benefits, in a climate of tightening IT budgets.
The research investigates the benefits and challenges of SOA and how an understanding of SOA informs these benefits and challenges.
An interpretivist approach to the research was adopted and a qualitative paradigm for gathering information was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with IT professionals who had experience of SOA.
The key findings were:
The benefits of SOA are pertinent to organisations affected by the global economic downturn.
The challenges include organisational- and change-management issues and require the involvement of all role players in a business and not just IT personnel.
An in-depth understanding of SOA and careful planning are critical to anyone embarking on an SOA initiative.
While the upfront costs are potentially high, organisations can manage these costs by implementing a SOA solution incrementally, not buying the entire software stack upfront, and planning and implementing in such a way as to encourage reuse. These cost-mitigation measures ensure that the initial costs of SOA are outweighed by multiple long-term benefits.
Description
MBA thesis - WBS
Keywords
Service oriented architecture, Information technology