You are browsing the archive for 2009 November.
Where can I find a FREE web hosting service with FTP and MySQL support?
5:07 pm in SOA Answers by admin
and also, with free PHP support.
CS 1.6 Gather Ace
2:50 pm in Uncategorized by admin
playing cs sNk cs spawn ninja defuse cpl1337 winnter summer 2008 wesg esl eXtreme sporting league world cyber games … cs 1.6 movie pgl zone ro walle SpawN apocalipsa colt dgl deagle spawn aaa pgs pentagram g-shock alternate attax sk heaton potti aimetti zex new version wcg 2008 2009 skil best tribute snAke eolitic noa soa mousesports fnx mibr mym nip Sk-gaming fnatic g-sock learn tutorial silent…
Complexity and Power
8:14 am in SOA Implementation, SOA Solutions by admin
@RSessions kindly gave me a quick overview of his SIP methodology, and how he calculates the complexity of a system of systems, based on the number of elements in each system and the number of connections between systems. The internal complexity of each system increases in a non-linear manner with the number of elements, and the external complexity increases with the number of connections between the systems, so the trick is to find a structure that optimizes the overall complexity.
Obviously we have to be clear as to what counts as an element (for example functions), and what counts as a connection. Using the SIP lens, it is possible to see how certain architectural styles (including those popular in the SOA world, such as hub-and-spoke or layered) only deliver simplicity (and the benefits of simplicity) if we can assume that only certain kinds of connection are significant. Roger’s view is that this assumption is unwarranted and invalid.
In general, the so-called functional requirements are associated with the elements and the logical connections between them. In my view, architects also need to pay attention to the nature of the connections (coupling) because these will have important consequences on the structure and behaviour of the system as a whole. For example, synchronous versus asynchronous. At present, Roger’s complexity calculations don’t differentiate between different kinds of connection, so it would be interesting to investigate the costs and risks associated with different kinds of connections, to see how much difference it could make.
Roger’s primary interest is in IT systems, but the same principles would appear to apply to processes and organizations. If you are running a factory, you have an architectural choice about the connection between say the moulding shop and the paint shop. With an asynchronous flow you have two loosely coupled operations separated by a buffer of work-in-progress; with a synchronous flow you have two tightly-coupled operations connected on a just-in-time basis. The former is a lot easier to manage, but it has an overhead in terms of inventory cost, storage cost, increased elapsed time, slower response to changes in demand, and so on. The latter may be more efficient under certain conditions, but it can be more volatile and the impact is much greater when something goes wrong anywhere in the process.
Intuitively, there seems to be a difference in complexity between these two solutions. The first is simpler, because the connection between the two systems is weaker; the second is more complex. With greater complexity comes greater power but also greater risk. Surely this is exactly the kind of architectural trade-off that enterprise architects should be qualified to consider. Roger’s SIP methodology does give the architect a very simple lens to try and understand system-of-system complexity. Not everyone agrees with Roger’s definition of complexity, and we can find some radically different notions of complexity for example in the Cynefin world, but at least Roger is raising some important issues. The EA world certainly needs to pay a lot more attention to questions like these.
Is Enterprise Architecture a Science? Part 2
3:55 am in SOA Implementation, SOA Solutions by admin
@RSessions was in London this week, so I sat down with him to continue our previous discussion Is Enterprise Architecture a Science?
The first question to address is – which enterprise architecture are we talking about? I think we both agree that there are some activities within the EA world that look more like religion or mediaeval scholastic philosophy than empirically verifiable science.
For example, in his post What’s Right with the Zachman Framework, Grant Czerepak states that “the architectural metaphor conceals what the six perspectives are actually about: Entities, Relationships, Attributes, Constraints, Definitions and Manipulations”. And referring to the Kipling-Zachman lens, Grant claims that “the interrogatives have a foundation that goes back over three thousand years across every human culture”. (In a separate post, he says It’s not Aristotle’s fault, it’s your fault.)
Lots of EA frameworks are essentially abstract classification scheme that start from an abstract ontological argument (“obviously all businesses are made of objects” or “obviously all processes are made up of nouns and verbs”) and make assertions that are not amenable to empirical verification.
Roger’s SIP methodology is at least based on an empirically testable (and quantified) hypothesis. That a system of systems with such-and-such measurable structural qualities (in terms of Roger’s definition of complexity) will have such-and-such predictable costs. So this provides the basis for a scientifically-grounded engineering practice. I think SIP methodology has a reasonable claim to be scientifically grounded: it can be evaluated not just on whether its prescriptions are practical, cost-effective and useful, but also whether its predictions are true. (Incidentally, I think it would be interesting to compare SIP with Christopher Alexander’s early book Notes on the Synthesis of Form. This contains detailed and mathematically grounded work on architectural complexity: although the software gurus who developed structured methods in the 1970s were aware of Alexander’s book, they left out most of the detail.)
I think there is a further step before EA could ever dream of becoming a fully empirical science, and this would involve large-scale collection and analysis of empirical data, so that there would be a closed loop between theory and practice, connecting structure and value. In order to achieve this, we should need the active participation of some of the more powerful players in the EA game – the large consultancies and above all the key government agencies that govern IT expenditure. (You know who you are.) At the moment, there is little sign that these organizations are seriously interested in any game-changing innovation. (Roger and I should be delighted to talk to representatives of these organizations, please contact us.)
Welcome To Datadialogs And Eden SOA
2:59 pm in Uncategorized by admin
solutions. It brings business and technology staff together through its rich WYSIWYG user interfaces and dramatically changes the way that organisations operate. Built on lean principles, Eden optimises business health by enabling service-oriented architecture (SOA), service-creation and service orchestration that drives process improvement initiatives. Visit for more informati…
Where can i find service that will do comprehensive web research on companies or topics for a fee?
12:18 pm in SOA Answers by admin
I am seeking a resource, well versed in web utilization, to search for information about other companies, and their people (only professional info – not personal info) – I am seeking an organization that does this for a fee and would expect professional results – I have searched for such resources unsuccessfully (which probably explains why I need to hire this work done…)
Thanks
SOA Governance Metaphors: SOA Governance: Balancing Process and Agility
10:12 am in SOA Governance by admin
“Implementing SOA without a solid governance model is the equivalent to having an airport without a control tower. Sure, there are some very good planes and talented pilots, but without the proper planning and timely information the end results would be disastrous. So make sure you build a control tower and hire some air traffic controllers!”
Link to Resource: SOA Governance: Balancing Process and Agility
Source: Mike Kavis
SOA Governance Resource Guide Section: SOA Governance Metaphors