Service Oriented Architecture

A Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is set of principles defining an architecture (that is loosely coupled and comprised of service providers and service consumers) which interacts according to a negotiated contract or interface. These services provide the Interfaces to Applications in the IT landscape. The primary goal of SOA is to expose application functions in a standardised way so that they can be leveraged across multiple projects. This approach greatly reduces the time, effort and cost it takes to maintain and expand solutions to meet business needs. SOA is not an off-the-shelf technology; rather, it is a way of architecting and organising IT infrastructure and business functionality.

SOA promotes loose coupling of software, resulting in services that are easier to integrate as they utilise lower-cost tools and have standards-based exchange formats and interface.

SOA Attributes:

• Functionality is organised as a set of modular, reusable shared services
• Services have well-defined interfaces and encapsulate key business processes
• Customer facing solutions serve as customised views of these services for different segments, and can access these shared services as needed.
• The reusable shared services are built without making any assumptions of who (portal or another service) will consume these services

Benefits of SOA:

• Agility to collaborate – SOA provides the ease of sharing information securely with partners and stakeholders by presenting a standard coarse grained service which any authorised business partner can use.
• Reduction of cost – SOA primitives are standards-based. For example, WSDL, SAML, SOAP & UDDI, provides a modular architecture, thereby enabling sharing and reuse of services.
• Improvement in efficiency – SOA promotes a modular enterprise, promising a high degree of reusability of business services, ensuring consistency.

Summary:

Although organisations vary in their purpose, size, structure and community, their underlying IT systems presents a broad set of common concerns and requirements. Examples include the need to align IT with the organisations missions and objectives, IT governance, providing competencies and abilities to share information and collaborate effectively and efficiently.

With SOA, companies have the potential to enable a much higher degree of business agility by transforming the current enterprise IT into a service-driven delivery model.

MDIS

Founded in 1956, the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) is one of Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit professional institutes for lifelong learning. MDIS has two main subsidiaries: Management Development Institute of Singapore Pte Ltd which oversees its Singapore academic operations, and MDIS International Pte Ltd which focuses on MDIS’ globalisation strategy. MDIS offers internationally-accredited courses in Business and Management, Engineering, Fashion and Design, Health and Nursing, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Languages and Education, Life Sciences, Media and Communications, Psychology, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Safety and Environmental Management. These programmes are offered in collaboration with renowned universities in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. MDIS also has set a proven track record of preparing students to excel in the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary and Advanced Level), Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Cambridge International Lower Secondary, through its comprehensive preparatory courses.

Share
Published by
MDIS

Recent Posts

Coming to Full Circle for Victor Tan: From MDIS Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering Student to Lecturer and Global Mentor

Victor’s story is one of transformation, perseverance, and global contribution. Once a student at the…

3 weeks ago

Bridging Theory and Real-World Impact: Why Dr. Cidi Wee Chose the Teesside University DBA at MDIS

In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, professionals are increasingly seeking postgraduate qualifications that combine academic…

2 months ago

Is a Business Degree Worth It in Singapore?

In an age of YouTube tutorials, online certifications and startup success stories, many students fresh…

2 months ago

How a Diploma in Engineering Is Your Ticket to a Tech Career

The goal of a diploma in engineering programme is to equip students with practical skills…

3 months ago

AI in Business Management: Trends Every Student Should Know

Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the way businesses operate, from streamlining processes to enhancing…

4 months ago

The Benefits of Studying a Master’s Programme in Singapore

Completing a master's programme in Singapore speaks volumes worldwide as students are equipped with extensive…

5 months ago