Questions:

Guidelines for Answering the Questions:

SOA is focused on a business/IT alignment, and the case study needs to consider how SOA addressed a particular business challenge or problem. This is not intended to be a detailed discussion of technology, but a view of how business and IT can, with SOA, drive improved business value. Answer the questions as if you were trying to convince the CEO of the value of SOA to the organization. Questions must be answered by a SOA Project Team Member.

1. What was the business challenge or problem addressed by the SOA project, and why was SOA selected to address this?

Guidance: What business group needed help that the SOA project supplied, and what particular areas of the business were impacted?

Examples: Managing relationship (customer, partner, employee), Cost containment, Business process innovation, BPM, product innovation, new segment/markets/channels, merger and acquisitions
(500 words max)

2. When was the project started, how large was the project and how was it funded, and how long did it take to see results?

Guidance: As a business focused effort, was it funded by business or IT and how soon were business results seen from the effort? (300 words max)

3. What was the planned and achieved ROI/Business Value (ie, improved agility, innovation, flexibility)?

Guidance: What were the business results seen, and where they tangible (savings) or intangible (customer satisfaction)? Please include details and supporting data whenever possible (e.g., detailed ROI, proof of increased agility or flexibility, examples of reuse, evidence of improved customer satisfaction, etc.). (500 words max)

4. How was the SOA Project team organized and what types of business staff were on the team? How was cross-organization collaboration (Business/Technical) achieved? Was a Center of Excellence (CoE) created?

Guidance: A key component of SOA is the alignment of Business and IT, and improving the working relationship between the two groups. How was this accomplished in the project? (300 words max)

5. What technology or software was used in the project? What vendors were involved? Was service reuse taken into consideration? What was the most complex technical challenge encountered?

Guidance: Are there particular SOA enabling tools used, such as an ESB or SOA testing tools? (300 words max)

6. What were the most significant lessons learned from the SOA project?

Guidance: If you were to do this same project again, what would you do differently? (300 words max.)

Reminder: To submit additional supporting materials, send an e-mail to the address found on the Confirmation Page and attach your files. Please make sure you specify the question number relevant to each attached file.