This dimension deals with getting the message of SOA out to the masses and ensuring they have the appropriate knowledge to effectively do their job.  The business strategy, IT strategy, and Enterprise Architecture all establish goals and principles that must guide everything that IT does.  If these strategies are not communicated downward, however, it is likely that they will not be factored in to the multiple decisions that occur in the architecture and design of a project.  For example, if it is determined that a project needs a new service, a project manager needs to understand the importance of that service to organization’s strategic goals rather than making decisions strictly based upon the impact to the project schedule. 

Beyond communication of goals and strategies, training in the appropriate concepts and technologies are critical to the success of an enterprise SOA adoption effort. If the staff is left to learn the associated technologies and concepts on their own, they are unlikely to be successful as when a formal training plan is put in place.

Level 0: Ad Hoc

At this level, no specific training on SOA is available and no formal communication plan has been established.  Individual projects or teams may have sent resources through training, but no comprehensive plan for the enterprise exists.

Level 1: Common Goals

At this level, key personnel have read books, articles, or attended conferences as part of an effort to establish a formal communication and training plan.  These individuals, in conjunction with the SOA stakeholders, must now establish a formal communication and training plan.  Put simply, the organization knows that communication and training are required, and have assigned key individuals to figure out the details.

Level 2: Foundation

At this level, the formal communication plan and formal training plan for the enterprise has been established and is now being executed.  Communications should be available at a broad level (what is SOA and why are we doing it) and a narrow level (what does it mean to my application development team), in a variety of formats.  Training has moved beyond the core set of individuals, and is now reaching a wider audience.

Level 3: Method and Governance

At this level, IT communications should begin to de-emphasize the reasons behind success and shift into a marketing of SOA successes within IT.   At the same time, communications is likely to have extended beyond IT, with a formal plan to bring the message to the rest of the organization. Training of IT personnel should be well underway, with the bulk of the staff having gone through formal training.

Level 4: Service-Oriented Enterprise

At this level, communication to the business and IT are one and the same.   Successes are marketed, and the overall effort is more decentralized, with individual service managers taking a very active role in the communications process.  The communications should not be about SOA per se, but should be about the business, its successes, and how technology solutions have contributed. 

Level 5: Optimized

At this level, the organization is likely leveraging its successes for competitive advantage, with a focus on communicating and educating outside of the organization.