E-Dea Approach to SOA
SOA Service Oriented Architecture

Overview

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) provides a design framework for realizing rapid and low-cost system development and improving total system quality. SOA uses the Web services standards and technologies and is rapidly becoming a standard approach for enterprise information systems.
Web services face significant challenges because of particular requirements. Applying the SOA paradigm to a real-time system throws up many problems, which include response time, support of event-driven, asynchronous parallel applications, complicated human interface support, reliability, etc.
A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a higher level of application development that enables IT to focus on business processes, rather than the underlying IT infrastructure, to achieve competitive advantage.
SOA is valuable to enterprises that need to solve business-critical problems using information technology, including enterprises that want to minimize redundant infrastructure and create a common business interface across customer and employee systems; businesses that need to personalize information to users based on roles and workflows; and organizations that want to use the Internet to boost revenue per customer through cross-selling, up-selling and access via mobile devices.
Enterprises that adopt a service-driven approach experience the following business and IT benefits:

E-Dea approach to SOA

E-Dea have developed his IMOS® (Integrated Maritime Operating System), the next generation software platform for the shipping and short sea markets, following the SOA approach and technologies.
Based on a SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) paradigm and using open standards as JAVA EE and XML – SOAP, IMOS® offers a unique platform designed to satisfy business and integration needs of all operators involved in maritime operations.
The cutting-edge IMOS® Service Bus - based on Java Enterprise Service Bus standards and EJB 3.0 technology – supplies advanced distributed enterprise services for data synchronization and persistence, intelligent routing, and mediation through all solutions part of the IMOS® platform, simplifying complex and costly messaging infrastructures.

Business Benefits of Service-Oriented Architecture

1. Efficiency: Transform business processes from soloed, replicated processes into highly leveraged, shared services that cost less to maintain.
2. Responsiveness: Rapid adaptation and delivery of key business services to meet market demands for increased service levels to customers, employees, and partners.
3. Adaptability: More effectively roll out changes throughout the business with minimal complexity and effort, saving time and money.

IT Benefits of Service-Oriented Architecture

1. Reduced Complexity: Standards-based compatibility versus point-to-point integration reduces complexity
2. Increased Reuse: More efficient application/project development and delivery through the reuse of shared services, previously developed and deployed
3. Legacy Integration: Legacy applications, leveraged as re-usable services, lowers the cost of maintenance and integration

Today's service-driven enterprises are experiencing these benefits and more as they leverage IT in the rapid development and reliable delivery of new and enhanced services in order to maximize business opportunities.

SOA Enterprise Considerations

The service-driven enterprise is optimized around service—efficiently servicing customers, partners and employees—and accelerating the service response time of the business. Yet, achieving a service-driven enterprise requires more than just deploying products. Organizations interested in implementing a service-driven foundation will want to engage an experienced SOA provider with services that can help both business and IT stakeholders as they consider the following:
Business Strategy & Process - Does the current business and IT strategy include a framework for SOA. Once articulated in an aligned business and IT strategy, business problems can be defined and solutions can be implemented, in a coherent, repeatable way.
Architecture - Enterprises must develop an architectural framework that allows the assembly of components and services for the rapid and dynamic delivery of solutions. The architecture focuses on reuse and leverage, and avoids stovepipe applications and islands of IT resources.
Costs & Benefits - In an SOA, responsiveness is improved with development and maintenance costs significantly reduced, providing compelling cost-benefit analysis.
Projects & Applications - SOA enables a new way of building applications within a more powerful and flexible programming model. The Organization needs to identify existing and "in flight" applications that will be incorporated into the SOA architecture.
Building Blocks - Both an architecture and a programming model, SOA is a way of thinking about building software. The enterprise needs to identify the building blocks-code, services, applications and components-that can be used and reused in a SOA implementation.
Organization & Governance - Roles and responsibilities need to be identified for new service-oriented IT organizations and optimize skill sets for success, as well as organizing an effective design "Reuse Factory," helping to define governance models and ultimately ensuring customer self-sufficiency in running the governance office.