Agile development and service-oriented architecture make each other better

From an IT service management standpoint, service-oriented architecture and agile development are a package deal. Trying to implement one without bringing the other along for the ride is almost a guarantee that the results will be underwhelming, according to an article from Antonio Bruno for Service Technology magazine.

SOA creates greatly enhanced potential ROI from agile methodology by applying similar principles to IT operations, as both are designed to allow businesses to implement new applications and upgrades in order to keep pace with the changing needs of a modern company, Bruno wrote.

"SOA introduces a controlled environment in which changes are accommodated in support of agile processes, where quality, efficiency and productivity are increased through the appliance of design patterns, standards and governance procedures," he said.

Older IT service management techniques and systems, Bruno also noted, are likely to inflate total ownership costs for agile products.

According to ZDNet contributor Joe McKendrick, agile thought is at the heart of what he calls the "lean" approach to IT, which is focused on maximizing efficiency and flexibility.