Executive's Guide to Web Services (SOA, Service-Oriented Architecture) [Hardcover]

Eric A. Marks (Author), Mark J. Werrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2003

Discover how Web services can improve cost-savings and make your organization more competitive. You’ll get summaries of developing standards, current vendor positions (Microsoft, Novell, IBM, Oracle, Sun), and industry examples of Web services solutions and benefits.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Executives must continually seek to grow revenue, reduce costs, and improve operating efficiencies. Today, Web services are emerging as a critical technology for achieving these business objectives. Early adopters are deploying Web services as an integration platform to reduce costs. Web services are being used to improve the operating efficiency of relationships with customers, partners, and suppliers. And inevitably, organizations will utilize this emerging technology as a foundation for driving revenue growth by creating new business models and developing new markets.

Simply put, Web services are a set of technologies and standards that will fundamentally change the way in which information technology is used within the enterprise and across organizational boundaries. Web services deliver the basic building blocks that allow the World Wide Web to take the next evolutionary step forward, into an era where the Internet is truly the de facto platform over which businesses operate.

The premise of the Executive’s Guide to Web Services is that the adoption of Web services will not be based on the desire to implement a "new technology," but rather on the technology’s ability to deliver strategic business value. The authors untangle the maze of standards, concepts, and terminology that blur Web services, arming the reader with enabling concepts and providing a solid foundation and reference text with which to unleash untapped business potential.

Eric Marks and Mark Werrell summarize current Web services vendors, including market positioning and capabilities of BEA Systems, IBM’s "Services on Demand," Microsoft’s ".Net," Oracle’s "Oracle Dynamic Services," and Sun Microsystems’ "Sun ONE." They explain how business and IT strategies can accommodate Web services, providing specific industry examples, solutions, and benefits.

Chapters include:

• Standards, Concepts, and Terminology
• Web Services Adoption
• Strategic Perspective of Web Services
• Vertical Market Perspective of Web Services
• Architecting for Competitive Advantage
• Web Services Vendor Landscape

After the false promises and financial burden of the dotcom boom and bust, many executives are understandably gun shy about new technology. This time, however, IT vendors have hit the mark, delivering tools that do not claim to reinvent the practice of business, but simply make it smoother, quicker, and more efficient. The Executive’s Guide to Web Services is essential reading for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, and all business leaders.

From the Back Cover

Praise for Executive’s Guide To Web Services

"Finally, a very readable book about how Web services operate in the real world. This is a must-read primer for all C level executives who want to understand how Web services are fundamentally changing how enterprises integrate, collaborate, innovate, and dominate."
–Peter Dupre, Chief Technical Strategist, Edgewater Technology, Inc.

"Following along the brilliant analytical path that he blazed with the release of his first book on IT, Business Darwinism: Evolve or Dissolve, Marks, with coauthor Mark Werrell, continues to observe, digest, analyze, and clearly explain the latest trends in IT innovation. The Executive’s Guide to Web Services is a must-read companion for any IT manager, technology innovator, or corporate executive committed to successfully navigating through the maze of technology change. With this book, Marks and Werrell deliver a timely and valuable analysis of an important IT innovation at the ideal moment–just as the necessary confluence of technology, standards, and industry acceptance is starting to make the Web services vision a reality."
–Barry Zellen, CEO and Founder, TechnologyReports.net

"Marks and Werrell have captured the true essence of Web services in their provocative new book Executive’s Guide to Web Services. Their overarching emphasis on business issues over technology issues makes Executive’s Guide essential reading for any business executive looking for new sources of competitive advantage."
–David R. Brousell, Editor-in-Chief, Managing Automation Magazine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471266523
• ISBN-13: 978-0471266525
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.9 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone venturing into Web Services!, May 21, 2003

By 

"swils_nz" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Executive's Guide to Web Services (SOA, Service-Oriented Architecture) (Hardcover)

Given the wide spread industry hype surrounding Web Services, and the appearance that every software vendor has their own definition and perspective on what really constitutes a Web Service, what do you get - A whole heap of confusion!!

In tackling this confusion "Executive's Guide to Web Services," does a great job of explaining what Web Services are, and separating the business realities from the overblown hype. As such this book is recommended reading for anyone who is looking for a foundation upon which to really understand this emerging subject space.

In this book Marks and Werrell discuss:

- What differentiates Web Services from previous IT trends
- The concepts and standards that make Web Services possible
- The rational for using Web Services to increase organizational flexibility and agility
- Current and future business scenarios for reducing costs and increasing revenues
- How and where to begin using Web Services (as well as where not!)
- Predominant software vendors in the Web Services space, and their market positions

Overall the book avoids technical discussions, favoring a business centric perspective, from which strategic and tactical business considerations are examined. If you are looking for a guide on how to code your first Web Services program, this is not the book for you, this topics is left to the numerous implementation books already out there.

In this book you will find a solid Web Services foundation that will arm you with a good perspective on what Web Services are, as well as where and when to use them today. You will also gain the knowledge and understanding necessary to discern Web Services reality from hype - do not underestimate how valuable this knowledge is for early forays into implementation of Web Services!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great job explaining Web Services, May 5, 2003

By 

Michael Tobin (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Executive's Guide to Web Services (SOA, Service-Oriented Architecture) (Hardcover)

"Executive's Guide to Web Services" starts out by providing real world examples of how and where Web services are being used today (e.g. Dunn & Bradstreet, Dell etc). These examples are used as a backdrop from which Web services concepts are introduced. Chapter 2, "Standards, Concepts and Terminology" is without doubt the most readable and comprehensive Web services primer that I've yet to find - it's worth buying the book for this chapter alone!

CONTENT:
Using chapter 2 as a foundation, later chapters further explore what Web services are, and what they can (and can't) do for businesses. Key topics covered include:
o Web Service Adoption - Looks at the hype surrounding Web services and outlines what's really achievable today. Also, details what the authors refer to as the "Web services Adoption Lifecycle," which maps the likely adoption and business usage of Web services over the next 3-5 years.
o Where to Begin - A step by step analysis of how, where, and when to use Web services for your business.
o Strategic/Vertical Market Implications - The medium to long terms strategic implications of Web services adoption.
o Architecting for Competitive Advantage - A conceptual discussion of how Web services can be used to create a more agile and flexible infrastructure, which is more adaptive to the fluidity of today's market dynamics.

CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, "Executive's Guide to Web Services" does a great job of explaining what Web services are, where and when to use them, and how they can be used to improve internal and inter-company operating efficiencies. The book covers each topic comprehensively, and does a good job of explaining complex concepts in a plain, easy to understand language.
Whether you are only just beginning to look into Web services, or you want to gain additional insights into how your business should look to use Web services, "Executive's Guide to Web Services" will be a good choice.

Good Choice - Highly Recommended.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Business/Management Primer on Web Services, March 28, 2003

By 

"alistair_rand" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Executive's Guide to Web Services (SOA, Service-Oriented Architecture) (Hardcover)

An excellent book for any business or IT executive that really needs to understand the concepts and implications of Web services. For those who need to appreciate how this technology will impact their business environment and strategic direction, but are not about to sit down and start writing the code!

This book takes the reader from first principles, laying a foundation upon which the implications and potential of Web services can be fully understood. Early chapters introduce and explain Web services basics as well as introducing a model for how they will be adopted over the coming 3-5 years. Later chapters look at the strategic and vertical market implications of Web services, before moving on to the more tactical question of how and where to begin their implementation.

Throughout the book the authors maintain a vendor neutral perspective, which is particularly helpful when they introduce and discuss the primary software vendors (BEA, IBM, Microsoft etc) wrestling for dominance in the Web services market. The book covers all the bases and should be required reading for managers and executives wanting to learn about Web services.

I give this book a 5/5 for those who want - or perhaps need - to understand Web services and anticipate their impact on business and IT operations. Overall a great Web services primer.