What does it take for an organization to make a strategic decision ?
This week I had an interesting afternoon with a really large organization and its strategic architects. They are in thinking mode for implementing a SOA strategy. We were discussing several things; one was
How-to convince the top management ?
It is a normal reaction not to react on future problems that are unlikely to impact you in the very near future(actions on climate change, pension savings etc..). People tend to react when they really, really need to - instead of having a long term strategy. Organizations are managed by people so the same rules more or less apply.
Today an organization really has 2 choices regarding its future IT architecture.
1. To plan and implement a SOA strategy
2. Not to plan and implement a SOA strategy
Now; if you bet on number 2 what will be the implications ? Well what will probably happen is that when new capabilities are requested the complexity of your future architecture will be much higher with to many integration points and unnecessary technology solutions. The cost to implement changes will continue to increment and one day you will find yourself in a situation where the cost of change is really out of proportion and then(!) you might reflect on number 1.
Many people are afraid to implement a SOA strategy today because they think that it will be very disruptive for the organization for many years, and yes it will be if you focus to much time and resources on it.
SOA is really about your long term strategy and being consistent ; your short term strategy can remain what you want it to be in the main time.
