Enhancing SOA with Service Lifecycle Management : Towards a Functional Reference Model

Service-orientation is a paradigm aiming at decomposing monolithic application systems into services, i.e. functional units that adhere to certain criteria such as standardized interfaces and the ability to be flexibly combined with each other. With the growing importance and diffusion of this paradigm, the management of an increasing number of services along their lifecycle (Service Lifecycle Management - SLM) is becoming a success factor. Although comprehensive IT support is not the only ingredient for successfully managing services, it is a contribution to compensate for the growing complexity. Surprisingly, the topic of software application support in SLM has not yet received systematic coverage in the literature from a functional perspective. Consequently, this paper proposes a functional reference model for SLM and describes the underlying design process. The model supports practitioners in analyzing, designing and implementing software support for SLM. Further it enables to compare and evaluate existing software solutions and as such it supports IT investment decisions. Scientifically the model represents an approach towards designing information systems in the area of SLM. The paper argues that companies should pursue a best-of-breed approach, as there is no single solution available that comprehensively supports the entire lifecycle. Further, the lack of application support of SLM in practice mainly stems from the absence of integrated solutions and missing knowledge on how to evaluate potential applications.