Copyright © 2007, ZapThink, LLC 1 SOA for eGov: Credentialing and Certification Ronald Schmelzer...

Copyright © 2007, ZapThink, LLC 1

SOA for eGov: Credentialing and Certification

Ronald SchmelzerFollowing the ZapThink Roadmap

ZapThink, LLC


Is there an Architect in the House?

• The new level of discipline required by architecture– A formal approach to organizing IT resources

is still a relatively new practice

• Just how big is the big picture?– Architects must have an enterprisewide view

• Where are the architects?– It’s hard to learn architecture at college –

most learn on the job


Where Do You Find Enterprise Architects?

• Enterprise Architects (EAs) must have the big picture of the relationship between business & technology

• Some are more technical, some are more business-oriented, many organizations put both types together on a team

• Typically rise through ranks internally, because of need for intimate knowledge of business

• Supplement EA team with consultants, but don’t let consultants drive EA


Interaction Challenges

• Cultural Issues– Network Ops and Developers don’t talk to each other

• Budget issues– Who pays for Service Infrastructure / intermediaries?

• Responsibility issues– Who is in control of policy?

Developer/ArchitectDeveloper/Architect Network OperationsNetwork Operations

Services blur the Application / Network Boundary!Services blur the Application / Network Boundary!


More Interaction Challenges

• Management issues– People tend to avoid risk, stay within “comfort zone” - may appear stubborn

• Technical issues– Architecture is a difficult subject

• Cultural issues– The “Ivory Tower” problem…

ArchitectArchitect Development/TestingDevelopment/Testing

Architecture is difficult to mandateArchitecture is difficult to mandate


Working with IT Middle Management

• Middle managers threatened by SOA because of the Service domain reorganization

• Solution:– Technical specialties still required– New opportunities for Service domain

management


The SOA Team

• Business analysts/business process architects– Define Service specs depending on business requirements– Decompose and recompose processes

• Enterprise/SO architects– Codify policy and best practices– Create Service model

• Technical specialists/project architects– Specify implementation

• Service provider/consumer developers– Implement requirements and policy

• Testers / Quality Assurance– Insure conformance, simulate Service providers & consumers

• Network, operations and security personnel– Contribute relevant expertise to project


The Roles of SOA

Use Case ViewSOAs

Use Case ViewSOAs

Use Case View

SOAs

Logical ViewFunctional requirements

BusinessStakeholders

Information View

InformationSpecialists

Business AnalystsLOB Experts

Process ViewProcess ViewProcesses

Use Case View

SOAs

Enterprise Architects

Deployment ViewPlatforms

Systems Experts

Data View

Data Experts

Implementation ViewComponents

Component ArchitectsDevelopers

Copyright (C) 2004, ZapThink, LLC


Bring Together Different Mindsets

• Developer Mindset: “Bottom-Up”– Everything is a Service or an Interface– Goal: connect Services– Method: Use objects and App Servers– Problem: Too many things to connect!

• Business Mindset: “Top-Down”– Everything is a Process– Goal: Run business efficiently: manage

processes– Method: Use diagrams and flowcharts– Problem: How can you turn “shelf-

ware” into software?


Challenge: Inertia in the Organization

• Architecture doesn’t have features and business executives pay for features!

• Moving to SOA means breaking down silos and sharing resources

• The technology change is easy – it’s the human change that’s the hard part!


Just what does SOA mean on a Resume Anyways?

• I know how to spell it

• I read it in a magazine

• I know Web Services

• The vendors told me everything I know.

• I know architecture


Vendor Credentials:Ingenious or Dubious?

• Some vendors are building off their early expertise and knowledge, and EA capabilities for consulting.– IBM, BEA, HP, Microsoft, maybe one or two

others have credible training / credentialing– webMethods / Software AG now building steam

with the SOAMasterClass.org

• But most are self-serving…– “Want to be credentialed / certified? Just buy

our products!”


Object Management Group (OMG) Credentials & Network

“OMG™ is an international, open membership, not-for-profit computer industry consortium. OMG Task Forces develop enterprise integration standards for a wide range of technologies, and an even wider range of industries”

• Champions of:– CORBA– UML– Model-Driven Architecture (MDA)

• The SOA Consortium“The SOA Consortium is a new SOA advocacy group comprised of end

users, service providers, and technology vendors, committed to helping the Global 1000 successfully adopt SOA by 2010.”

• While adding to the picture, not really a SOA credential per-se.

• More IT generalist credentials / certifications applicable that are either super-sets of SOA credentials or provide underlying foundation.


Open Group Credentials& Network

“The Open Group is a vendor-neutral and technology-neutral consortium, whose vision of Boundaryless Information Flow™ will enable access to integrated information, within and among enterprises,based on open standards and global interoperability.”

• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)– TOGAF Certification is for both individuals and organizations. Individuals can become certified by

demonstrating their knowledge of TOGAF either by attending a training course or passing an examination test. Organizations can have their products (TOGAF Tools or Training Courses), and services certified.

• Association of Open Group Enterprise Architects (AOGEA)– The AOGEA is the definitive professional association for Enterprise Architects. Its goals are to increase

job opportunities for all of its members and increase their market value by advancing professional excellence, and to raise the status of the profession as a whole.

• IT Architect Certification (ITAC) – An independent, industry-wide standard for IT Architects and creates a foundation for trust between

suppliers and customers. – Under the program, practicing Enterprise and IT Architects can achieve the IT Architect Certification

based on demonstrating substantial skills, experience and success in architecting solutions across the whole lifecycle.

– In addition to certifying individuals directly, the program also provides Accreditation of third-party IT architect certification programs. The skill and experience requirements for both the Direct Certification and the Accredited programs are identical.

• Helping to mature the IT industry and EA resources as a whole, but not SOA specific.


IASA Network

“IASA is the premier association focused on the architecture profession through the advancement of best practices and education while delivering programs and services to IT architects of all levels around the world. ”

• Skills Library

• IT Architect Symposia

• Training– Not SOA specific, but segmentation of

architect community matches closely with SOA career development


The Licensed ZapThink Architect (LZA) Program

• Three Levels of Credentialing for SOA architects:– Junior Licensed ZapThink Architect

• EA architects with some SOA capabilities– Senior Licensed ZapThink Architect

• EA architects with strong SOA artifact expertise– Licensed ZapThink Architect Fellow (Trainer)

• Licensed to deliver SOA knowledge and training to others in the organization

• Membership in the LZA Program for one year– Contribution and collaboration on SOA artifacts– Annual LZA member conference– Interaction with other SOA / EA experts– Access to the Architect Resource Center (ARC)

ZapThink is filling the unmet need for SOA knowledge and credentialsZapThink is filling the unmet need for SOA knowledge and credentials


How Do You Eat an Elephant?

• One bite at a time!

• Don’t expect to have all the answers on day one

• Take a step-by-step approach

• Show business value at each step

Copyright © 2007, ZapThink, LLC 1 SOA for eGov: Credentialing and Certification Ronald Schmelzer...

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