Joe McKendrick is an author and independent analyst who tracks the impact of information technology on management and markets. Joe is co-author, along with 16 leading industry leaders and thinkers, of the SOA Manifesto, which outlines the values and guiding principles of service orientation. He speaks frequently on cloud, data, and enterprise computing topics at industry events and Webcasts. As an independent analyst, he has authored numerous research reports in partnership with Forbes Insights and Unisphere Research, a division of Information Today, Inc. In a previous life, Joe served as director of the Administrative Management Society (AMS), an international professional association dedicated to advancing knowledge within the IT and business management fields. He is a graduate of Temple University.
Software may be growing increasingly ubiquitous. But that just means the problems associated with poor design are growing as well.
If things don't go right at the federal bankruptcy court in San Francisco this December 6th, Web services could potentially have its very own SCO Group drama at some time in the not-so-distant future. There's an effort underway in what could be the industry's most important test to date of its ability to shield Web services methods from legal shenanigans.
As if we don't have enough to worry about, there's a new crisis in the offing. A report making the rounds predicts that we'll soon be straining the capacity of our networks, which may be unable to handle the rising tide of XML and Web services messages.
One of the most immediate business benefits that can come out of Web services and SOA is that of reuse. Namely, companies or their developers shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel every time they need to build or integrate a new application.
Just to amplify Joe's previous post on BEA's open source strategy, let me offer a Wal-Mart analogy. That may sound strange but bear with me.
Since Web services is based on open, accessible, and (allegedly) universally accepted standards, you'd think there would be more interplay between the Web services and open-source communities. But it hasn't really turned out that way yet.
Bill Gates remains a big believer in the power and potential of Web services. He contends that standards will generate a "more model-based approach to developing applications.