A direct
relationship exists between the number of development platforms a
firm uses and the penetration of SOA according to a new survey
by Forrester Research.
The market analyst found even if it is no surprise that
technology diversity drives adoption of service-oriented
architecture (SOA), clear patterns exist in the use of development
platforms, development languages, and application platform vendors
that affect how rapidly certain IT segments adopt SOA.
With SOA adoption
among small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), says the
analyst, there is fairly wide variation in
SOA penetration and current use of SOA when measuring by
development platform, by number of development platforms, and by
development language — but not as much variation as there is when
measuring by number of development languages.
SMBs that use three development platforms have significantly
higher SOA penetration than those using only one. Indeed,
Forrester’s study revealed, the number of platforms serves as an
even greater accelerator of SOA adoption among SMBs than it does
among enterprises. Forrester recognises that having three
development languages active may be the point where SMBs begin to
feel more pressure to adopt SOA.
Forrester believes that by finding the patterns that match an
organisation’s technology environment, architects can bolster their
case for SOA with industry adoption umbers that correspond closely
with their peers’ adoption rates.
It advises architects building the case for SOA in their firm to
stress how SOA adoption levels accelerate with technology
diversity.