Architecture for Digital Ecosystems, beyond Service Oriented Architecture (IEEE-DEST 2007)

A business ecosystem is a term introduced by James Moore where in "The Death of Competition: Leadership and Strategy in the Age of Business Ecosystems" wrote on page 26 that a Business Ecosystem is based on dynamic interaction of organizations which evolves over time their capabilities and roles. To this extent this paper will tell that service oriented architecture (SOA) is not adequate to face such challenges which are unique in the context of a digital ecosystem (DES). The author will highlight such differences and describe the features of a new architectural style: called ecosystem oriented architecture (EOA). The paper will explore the fact that a DES oriented architecture is not a "sort of SO A", it\´s not just a "bigger SOA". A whole set of new problems are to be addressed namely responsive alignment with the business, decentralization, ownership of the knowledge base and self healing. EOA is a new mindset in decentralized architectures for DES.