Introducing a Method to Derive an Enterprise-Specific SOA Operating Model

Considering that each IT-organization is based on an established IT-governance the introduction of SOA as a new overall architectural approach will change the requirements for the specific governance model. The paper presents a SOA-specific governance model which differentiates an operating model, service lifecycle management, service ownership, cost allocation, and meta-data management support. Based on the company´s maturity along the SOA-relevant dimensions IT-governance, SOA experience, and process maturity, its size, as well as its organizational structure the paper discusses an SOA operating model with organizational structure, roles, responsibilities, and KPIs. The main assumption of the approach is the alignment of the organizational structure of IT with a functional domain model. This operating model is the outcome of ten industrial workshops and one complex case study based on standards as CobiT and ITIL.