Service-Oriented Architecture Impacts Contractors, Agencies

Words: Margaret FosterThe impacts of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) have been mixed to date, but contractors should prepare for significant long-term effects and more SOA-related RFPs, according to a recent report from the INPUT Executive Program (IEP). SOA may change agencies’ acquisition models, while also requiring new contractor sales approaches and removal of some important differentiators formerly enjoyed by technology providers.

“Standardization is the backbone of SOA,” explains Deniece Peterson, senior analyst, IEP at INPUT. “For providers who usually supply proprietary solutions, this will force them to find other ways to be ‘best-of-breed.’ If they don’t, they’ll just become ‘very-easily-replaced.”

The incremental implementations of SOA have caused some to question whether there will really be any “transformation” in government as a result of SOA. IEP’s report finds, however, that agencies are not only making sense of what SOA means and what it can achieve, they are looking for ways to implement SOA organically. As a result, contractors should expect continued growth in the SOA-related market, but not necessarily in large, highly visible programs.

“SOA opportunities may be buried in program requirements, mission support, or in task order purchasing,” said Peterson. “This requires many contractors to re-think their sales strategy for SOA opportunities, at the least. They should also keep their eyes open in case ‘hidden’ SOA implementation impacts their other areas of interest.”
About: Featured
2024 Architectural Awards: Excellence In Masonry Winners

The Masonry Advisory Council held the 2024 Excellence in Masonry Awards on Saturday, October 26th at 167 Green St., Chicago, Illinois. Honoring 80 projects from over the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Area. The Awards program celebrates outstanding ar

By: Ashley Kelly
Read More
NSI and ISFA Announce Silica Exposure Literature Review

NSI and ISFA are proud to present a literature review that summarizes the growing library of studies related to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure. Completed by Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the study covers 34 publications and d

By: Amy Oakley
Read More
La Maison Franchère: How Masonry Turns Functional Buildings Into Timeless Beauty

La Maison Franchère, or the Franchers’ House, stands as a notable relic of stone architecture in Saint-Mathies, a small Quebec town on the edge of the Richelieu River. Unlike the neighboring homes, this towering, two-and-a-half-story mansion immediately c

By: Vera Autushka
Read More
MASONRY STRONG Podcast Episode 5 Recap: Zach Everett

Welcome back to another insightful episode of the Masonry Strong podcast! Today, we have a very special guest, Zach Everett, sharing his journey and experiences in the world of safety within the masonry industry. From humble beginnings to becoming a vital

By: Justin Stengel
About: Featured
Read More