Talking SOA to the CEO -- First, Don't Call it 'SOA'

SOA in Action Blog

« 'Visionary Architects' Will Lead SOA Charge | Main | Practical Advice on the Road to Reuse »

January 23, 2007

Talking SOA to the CEO -- First, Don't Call it 'SOA'

Sandy Carter, vice president of IBM in charge of everything SOA, recently provided a series of tips for approaching the CEO about an SOA project. Here are a few key pointers:

Don't call it 'SOA': "Explain the value and benefits in business terms that reflect the organization's goals -- such as cost reduction, productivity, competitive advantage, etc. -- before diving into a technical conversation."

Vision, not version: "Outline the immediate and long-term results from this strategy while avoiding discussions about specific version numbers." Also, Carter advises, avoid technical jargon all together.

Build consensus throughout the company: "Prove the value of SOA through small test projects conducted with volunteer departments in the organization."

Start small yet live large: "When selecting those small test projects, choose to integrate and automate those business processes that can have the most widespread, positive impact across the organization."

Show conviction and prediction: "Articulate goals for each step along the SOA path. By publicly stating and achieving realistic goals for the organization based on an SOA -- increasing productivity or decreasing
costs by XX percent -- you can bolster confidence in the project and overall strategy." Be sure to set goals and track performance along the way.

Posted by joemckendrick in SOA | Digg This | Add to del.icio.us