Re: [soa-rm-ra] Service non-definition

[mpoulin@usa.com]

I cannot accept this definition, Peter, sorry. Why would not we use Ken's expression directly?

Here is why I dislike the definition below:

1) service and result are too much different things; service delivers result like any function, but it is not a result itself. Service=result is terribly confusing to me!

2) I do not accept that a service is always a process. I am involved now in a a wide discussion about ACM vs. BPM - adaptive case management vs. process management  -  and the common agreement that we may not call 'process' everything we do because process is only structured set of actions. Also, both process and actions are 'doing' while I insist on that a service is a thing, which can 'do'. Going further into Business SOA, service is a business unit providing business functionality and delivering the results (and RWE).

- Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter F Brown <peter@peterfbrown.com>
To: soa-rm-ra@lists.oasis-open.org
Sent: Fri, Jan 14, 2011 10:43 pm
Subject: [soa-rm-ra] Service non-definition

How does this sound:

 

“A ‘service’ can be variously understood as ‘some result delivered’ as well as the ‘process’ or indeed the abstract ‘thing’ involved in delivering that result. Where the term service is used in this document, it is in the common sense way which may cover any or all of these concepts. Where one or other explicit senses it intended, and in order to avoid possible ambiguity, more explicit terms (including Real World Effect, Service Activity, Capability and System) will be used in line with the definitions in the Reference Model.”

 

I would propose adding this to the end of the second para of section 1.2:

 

Does this help?

 

Peter F Brown

Independent Consultant

Transforming our Relationships with Information Technologies

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