Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture

SEI Report
This 2007 SEI whitepaper by Grace Lewis and Dennis B. Smith outlines four pillars to Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) success.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

Abstract

Among current technologies, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) has the greatest potential for implementing the vision of migration to net-centric operations. While SOA has been successful in many cases, it has also been marked by a number of expensive failures. This article outlines four pillars to SOA success that include the following: developing an appropriate SOA strategy, implementing effective SOA governance, making sound technology assessments, and accounting for the fact that SOA requires a different mindset. As a result, the article proposes how a Department of Defense (DoD) organization can develop and implement an effective strategy for SOA implementation.

Cite This SEI Report

Lewis, G., & Smith, D. (2007, September 1). Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture. Retrieved September 12, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/four-pillars-of-service-oriented-architecture/.

@techreport{lewis_2007,
author={Lewis, Grace and Smith, Dennis},
title={Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture},
month={Sep},
year={2007},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/four-pillars-of-service-oriented-architecture/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-12}
}

Lewis, Grace, and Dennis Smith. "Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, September 1, 2007. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/four-pillars-of-service-oriented-architecture/.

G. Lewis, and D. Smith, "Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 1-Sep-2007 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/four-pillars-of-service-oriented-architecture/. [Accessed: 12-Sep-2026].

Lewis, Grace, and Dennis Smith. "Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Sep. 2007. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/four-pillars-of-service-oriented-architecture/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Lewis, Grace; & Smith, Dennis. Four Pillars of Service-Oriented Architecture. Software Engineering Institute. 2007. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/four-pillars-of-service-oriented-architecture/