Rob,

 

> the assumption in the example was that applications were replaced with
services some how, some way

> [.]

> The assumption being that each application would be replaced by multiple
services

 

In my view of business services, applications are NOT necessarily replaced,
but are a part of a business service.

 

Some applications are problematic in that they contain functionality under
the responsibility of multiple business services. Applications like "the
portal", or "the database", or "the ERP" often fall under that category.
That isn't necessarily terrible, provided they aren't monolithic beasts
which, when if you try to take some functionality out of them and move it
elsewhere, will fight you tooth and nail. 

 

While the refactoring effort may prove to be difficult, the applications
still continue to exist afterwards.

 

> I contend, however, that typically an SO approach will generally result 

> in more components, and will thus be more complex

 

Let's take a closer look at what complexity is. On the one hand, we have
these apps which are likely to be monolithic big piles of mud with very high
internal complexity. After performing the SO approach, we may have more
moving parts, yet each is better defined with much lower internal complexity
than before.

 

If we were to look at the average complexity of the before and after, we see
that it goes down substantially. There are many metrics that can be used to
prove that (cyclomatic complexity, for one), but the KPI we see improving is
the time it takes to make a change or add functionality to the ecosystem.

 

> But generally we still have more independent components, correct?

 

Yes. That actually means that more people can work on more parts at the same
time rolling out more business functionality faster. In short, that's a good
thing.

 

-- 

Udi Dahan - The Software Simplist

 

From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rob
Eamon
Sent: 13 January 2009 18:49
To: [email protected]
Subject: [service-orientated-architecture] Re: IBM's Carter on Selling SOA
to the CEO

 

--- In [email protected]
<mailto:service-orientated-architecture%40yahoogroups.com> , "Udi Dahan" 
<thesoftwaresimpl...@...> wrote:
>
> > Anyone have [.] a differing view?
> 
> 
> 
> Well, since you asked :-)

The exchange of ideas and opinions is the value of these boards!

> 
> > Eliminate 1 or even 2 apps, we will still have 9-20 services to 
> > manage independently vs. 5 applications.
> 
> 
> 
> I would strongly argue against this process for identifying 
> services. 
> 
> It also sounds like it would require rewriting those applications - 
> a big up-front cost without any immediate return.

The example proposed wasn't intended to promote any particular 
service identification approach. Rather, given Anne's thought about 
the need for application portfolio reduction or application 
rationalizations, the assumption in the example was that applications 
were replaced with services some how, some way. And the number of 
services listed was simply estimated from the number of applications 
being rationalized. The assumption being that each application would 
be replaced by multiple services. It was not intended as a commentary 
on how the rationalization would occur.

> In some previous threads (like
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/service-orientated-
architecture/message/12037) I gave examples of coarse business 
> services which interact with each other using business events. 
> You'd likely find multiple applications and even people working 
> within those services.
> 
> This style of service granularity and interaction does in fact 
> reduce complexity where possible, compartmentalizing it when 
> necessary.
> 
> Applications are more of an implementation detail for these kinds of
> services.

"Where possible" makes sense. I contend, however, that typically an 
SO approach will generally result in more components, and will thus 
be more complex than than the environment it is replacing. It will be 
true that particular capabilities are unlikely to exist in multiple 
places since one of the usual goals is eliminating redundancy. So 
that's good. But generally we still have more independent components, 
correct?

-Rob

 

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