Service-Orientation, SOA, RM vs. RA, etc.: Suggestion To Bring Us Closer

I would like to make a suggestion to help clear up the current division in our TC on some basic issues, which I believe is truly inhibiting our ability to move forward in a unified way - and will continue to do so unless we address it at this time.

The most prominent division that I have perceived over the course of several weeks is: "If we are defining a reference model, what is it for? Is it for a single service? (call this "service-orientation") or SOA?" IOW, "Is it SO-RM, or SOA-RM?"

The second most prominent division that I have perceived over the course of several weeks is: "Where is the line drawn between RM and RA?". Last week I began a thread[1] on this question, and I thank all who contributed (Matt, Duane, Ken, Rex, Francis, any others I missed). However, I think we really need to drill down into this question more and have a crystal clear answer before we go any farther, else run the risk of creating an RM that cannot easily "bridge to" an RA.

So, I would like to propose a solution:

I would like to propose that we take an informal poll (not a formal vote) across the TC as a "pulse check" that will enable us to come closer together on these vital issues. The poll would be comprised of the following questions (folks would simply put an "*" to the left of the letter of their response):

(1) Do you believe that the RM in our current draft is:

A. A service-orientation reference model

B. A SOA reference model

(2) If the answer to #1 was A: Do you believe that the current scope of the RM is what the scope should be for our finished product? (i.e. no need to expand or contract)

(3) If the answer to #1 was C: How would you describe our RM?

Answer here:_____________________________________________

(4) If the answer to #2 was B: Please describe why you believe our current RM is for SOA, but its scope is not correct.

Answer here:_____________________________________________

</Questions>

And I've already figured out how we can interpret the responses, based on combinations of responses for questions #1 and #2 (note that "A/A" means the response for both question #1 and #2 was A):

A/A: "I’m fine – proceed as is."

A/B: "We need to expand the scope of the current RM, and I have provided more details in question #4."

A/C: "I’m confused and need help."

B (N/A for question #2): "I’m fine – proceed as is."

C (N/A for question #2): "I think our current RM describes neither nor service orientation nor SOA, and I have provided more details in question #3."

</Responses>

What are your thoughts on disseminating this as a pulse check?

Thanks,

Joe

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