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Writing down thoughts - harder than it should be

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I just hit the 'send' button on a rough draft of a 10-page document describing key elements of our SOA program. 

It is my attempt to describe, in terms that business people can understand, the reasoning and rationale for our Enterprise Architecture approach to Service Oriented Architecture.

  • Writing down random thoughts on a blog: 30 minutes. 
  • Writing down a coherent argument that attempts to cover the bases and make a case: 10 days.
  • The possibility that someone in an important role may agree with my rantings: priceless.

I guess what is really hitting home: stepping out and holding up the flag of 'Enterprise SOA' in an organization known for federated development and complete independence is probably the toughest thing I've done in years... certainly the most difficult long-term effort since I tried to get a dot-com off the ground during the boom.  (we busted, like everyone else... it was a good run, though).  

If anyone tells you that Enterprise SOA is easy... laugh.  out.   loud.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2007
    PingBack from http://msdnrss.thecoderblogs.com/2007/08/21/writing-down-thoughts-harder-than-it-should-be/

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2007
    Would you be able to share that doc / . Now that would be priceless

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2007
    Nick - I'm impressed you could get something together in ten days ...

  • Anonymous
    August 21, 2007
    Hi Ric, I'll know if 10 days was long enough if anyone reads it!  To be honest, it's a distillation of some key ideas and concepts I've been discussing and sharing and evangelizing for four months.  I've had time to hone... just not on paper. The paper is for consumption within MS, so I cannot share to the public.  Sorry.   --- N

  • Anonymous
    August 23, 2007
    Nick, Let us all know the outcome of the reception (or lack or reception) to your rationale document! As you are probably well aware, SOA is about consumers using and depending on shared enterprise resources (the services!) and in most IT shops there is a general mistrust of anything shared! SOA Architects are held to a much higher level of scrutiny. It took you 10 days because you know you have to have answers for the laser focused questions you will get because the consumers are looking for any little weakness in the argument so they can tell their managers: "we can't do this because it doesn't address corner case 1234.5" Good luck! Thanks for being a though leader!

  • Anonymous
    September 09, 2007
    Sorr i just could not help noticing "enterprise SOA". I maybe completely wrong but I thought SOA was for enterprise and its applicability (even if you consider LoB in an enterprise as SMBs) outside of the enterprise context doesnt ring correct.

  • Anonymous
    September 10, 2007
    Hello R2D2, Enterprise SOA is a distinction from "small SOA" that is used to develop a service oriented business application.  I'm not comparing with B2B. Many SOA projects fail to take into account the needs of the enterprise in the creation of the services.  In MS, we've been 'doing SOA' for years, yet reuse and agility are not in evidence.  This is mostly because of that failure to consider the Enterprise. My job is to represent the needs of the Enterprise first.   --- Nick