Service-Oriented Architecture Governance for the Services Driven Enterprise

2.3. DECOMPOSING THE SOA GOVERNANCE REFERENCE MODEL

In this section, we will break down the SOA Governance Reference Model into its components. This exercise will provide an understanding of the many aspects of SOA governance and how they interrelate. Once the components of the reference model are understood, you will be able to apply it to your organization.

2.3.1. SOA Governance Strategy and Goals

The first elements of the SOA governance reference model are the SOA governance strategy and goals layer. This aspect of SOA governance answers a very simple and compelling set of questions:

• What must be governed and why?

• What must be governed now?

• To what end? What end result do we seek from SOA?

• What SOA policies are necessary based on the governance goals

These are the most fundamental questions to help focus your governance efforts where they address key business challenges and ensure that appropriate activities are conducted by the business, and that appropriate oversight and business controls are in place.

The strategic context for SOA governance is essential to determining what must be governed, why governance is important for the organization, and what goals will be realized from governing (as opposed to not governing). These decisions will set the stage for defining goals, principles, and policies of your governance model, and establish the enforcement mechanisms that will ensure conformance or compliance to those policies.

Many organizations embark on defining an SOA governance ...