Identification of Services - A Stakeholder-Based Approach to SOA Development and its Application in the Area of Production Planning

TLDR

Service‑oriented architecture requires a systematic identification of information system functions to be implemented as services. This paper proposes a selective service identification from a business perspective using process models, rather than converting all existing functions into services. Functions are evaluated for outsourcing and stakeholder visibility, and only those with sufficient business potential and technical feasibility are implemented as services. Evaluation in a medium‑sized manufacturing firm shows the approach enables reliable service identification that can be applied in other companies.

Abstract

A successful implementation of a service oriented architecture demands for a systematic identification of the information system functions to be implemented as services. In contrast to other approaches attempting to transfer each existing function in a company into a service, the method presented in this paper proposes a selective identification of services from a business point of view, based on process models. Functions are rated due to their outsourcing and visibility potential for stakeholders. Functions are only implemented and provided as a service, if both business potential and technical feasibility have been verified. Having been evaluated in a medium-sized manufacturing company, the approach and the results of the evaluation can also facilitate a sound service identification in other companies.