Book Description
Praise for Service-Oriented Architecture
"This book provides a superb overview of the SOA topic. Marks and Bell provide practical guidance across the entire SOA life cycle-from business imperatives and motivations to the post-deployment business and technical metrics to consider. With this book, Marks and Bell demonstrate a unique ability to take the complex dynamics of SOA, and through an eloquent set of metaphors, models, and principles, provide an understandable and insightful how-to manual for both technical and business executives. This will become a required handbook for any organization implementing SOA."
—Dan Bertrand, Enterprise Technology Officer & EDS Fellow, EDS Corporation
"A fundamental breakthrough in the business and technology perspectives of SOA-this book belongs in every software developer, architect, and IT executive library. Marks and Bell demonstrate a creative and practical approach to building complex, service-oriented systems. I especially liked the hands-on perspective brought to multiple aspects of SOA. A must-have guide in the technology turbulence of the future."
—Ariel Aloni, Chief Technology Officer, SunGard Data Management Solutions
"This outstanding text gets straight to the heart of the matter, cutting through the hyperbole and discussing how to drive real business value through SOA. It will certainly impact my behavior, our governance models, and, subsequently, the successful business outcomes we derive as we continue to embrace SOA. A must-read for battle-scarred SOA veterans and fledgling architects alike."
—Christopher Crowhurst, Vice President and Chief Architect, Thomson Learning
"Too often, SOA has been perceived as 'all about the technology'-standards, technology stacks, operational monitoring, and the like. In this book, Marks and Bell expand beyond the technology to provide a refreshing business-driven perspective to SOA, connecting the dots between business requirements, architecture, and development and operations, and overlaying these perspectives with tried-and-true governance techniques to keep SOA initiatives on track. A must-read for those leading the charge to adopt SOA within their enterprise."
—Brent Carlson, Chief Technology Officer, LogicLibrary and coauthor of San Francisco Design Patterns: Blueprints for Business Software
"Marks and Bell have captured a wealth of practical experience and lessons learned in what has become the hottest topic in software development. In this book, they explain in detail what works and what does not, from procedural issues to technical challenges. This book is an invaluable reference for organizations seeking the benefits of SOAs."
—Dr. Jeffrey S. Poulin, System Architect, Lockheed Martin and author of Measuring Software Reuse: Principles, Practices, and Economic Models
"One of the last things companies often consider when implementing a business solution such as SOA is the impact on people. Marks and Bell provide an in-depth look at 'what has to change' from a process standpoint to make any SOA implementation a success. A great read for those considering to embark on an enterprise SOA and looking for the right mix of people, process, and products."
—Alan Himler, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing, LogicLibrary
SOA is a complex topic and a complex organizational goal
Service-Oriented Architecture: A Planning and Implementation Guide for Business and Technology shows you how to plan, implement, and achieve SOA value through its prescriptive approach, joining the business and strategic perspective to the technical and architectural perspective.
Applicable to all industries, technology platforms, and operating environments, this innovative book provides you with the essential strategies to drive greater value from your SOA and realize your business goals.
Download Description
Praise for Service-Oriented Architecture ""This book provides a superb overview of the SOA topic. Marks and Bell provide practical guidance across the entire SOA life cycle-from business imperatives and motivations to the post-deployment business and technical metrics to consider. With this book, Marks and Bell demonstrate a unique ability to take the complex dynamics of SOA, and through an eloquent set of metaphors, models, and principles, provide an understandable and insightful how-to manual for both technical and business executives. This will become a required handbook for any organization implementing SOA."" Dan Bertrand, Enterprise Technology Officer & EDS Fellow, EDS Corporation ""A fundamental breakthrough in the business and technology perspectives of SOA-this book belongs in every software developer, architect, and IT executive library. Marks and Bell demonstrate a creative and practical approach to building complex, service-oriented systems. I especially liked the hands-on perspective brought to multiple aspects of SOA. A must-have guide in the technology turbulence of the future."" Ariel Aloni, Chief Technology Officer, SunGard Data Management Solutions ""This outstanding text gets straight to the heart of the matter, cutting through the hyperbole and discussing how to drive real business value through SOA. It will certainly impact my behavior, our governance models, and, subsequently, the successful business outcomes we derive as we continue to embrace SOA. A must-read for battle-scarred SOA veterans and fledgling architects alike."" Christopher Crowhurst, Vice President and Chief Architect, Thomson Learning
Customer Reviews:
AN EXCELLENT TECHNOLOGY BOOK .......2007-07-02
This book is an excellent SOA technological introduction that presents major architectural concerns that most architects, team leads, developers, and software modelers struggle with. It addresses fundamental service-oriented challenges and provides viable solutions that IT professionals can employ:
- A service lifecycle that identifies major modeling disciplines
- Introduction to service-oriented analysis, design, and realization
- Introduction to service-oriented technologies
- A service-oriented integration model that provide viable interoperable solutions
- Service reusability model that elaborates on various methods that can facilitate asset reuse in organizations
I'd recommend this book to IT personnel and SOA practitioners that would like to learn more about starting service-oriented projects and achieving effective results.
Business Focused SOA .......2007-06-26
This book is a must read for the Executive and Architect responsible for transforming their business processes and IT infrastructure from something resembling an anchor to an agile, flexible system that enables corporate progress. This book will show you a process that will help you get off step 0, define the right services, and ensure that your SOA efforts resolve your business and IT challenges. When implementing an SOA, the technology is the easy part, ensuring that services are created in a consistent manner, that they are designed with reuse in mind, that s/w creation, and hence new product development, gets less expensive and takes less time, over time, that's the hard part, that's where SOA Governance comes in, and this book will give you the SOA Governance basics you need to get your SOA transformation off to a good start. Get control of Governance and your 75% there. This book will not provide code snippets, developer advice, or describe technical specifications, if you want these things, get Thomas Url' or Greg Lomow' books. This book is about using a top-down business service analysis, bottom-up implementation considered, iterative SOA design model. Read it to develop or improve your SOA planning capabilities.
Not for a Developer.......2007-05-15
Note: My strong dislike of this book probably says more about me than the book...
As a developer I like books that bridge the technical and the business gap. I need to see, in concrete examples, how things might be implemented -- I want to see code, configuration documents, snippets of policy code etc. I also find it helpful when books build upon a sample application. I wanted to see examples of the technology that enables SOA, walk-thrus of standards such WSPL.
This book has none of that. To me it is a book of high-level lists of lists and every section I've read leaves me wondering what it said. I think they repeat themselves too much and the book seems poorly organized with material half way through a chapter which seemed to me to belong at the start. For all it being high-level, they make an assumption that the reader is familiar with a host of acronyms and/or the technology behind them.
SOA - Pragmatic Advice .......2007-03-05
Much has been written about the promise of SOA and, at the same time, the difficulty in realizing that promise to date. Most of us who work in this field know by now how to address the technical concepts, architecture and services in an SOA. Where this book stands apart from so many others is that it provides both conceptual and pragmatic advice in three critical areas which need attention for SOA to mature, to achieve business buy-in, and to attain the "SOA network effect" as the authors call it. These keys are: shifting focus to identification of candidate business services; SOA governance, organization, and behavior; and a framework for an SOA business case, ROI model and scorecard.
I enthusiastically recommend this book for the authors' lucid, insightful chapters on these three subjects alone. That they are woven nicely into a more complete system of processes and supporting structures to nurture along SOA through critical mass is an added bonus.
A Must Read !!!!.......2007-01-23
"Service Oriented Architecture is a hot topic and will be for times to come however it is often misunderstood topic in the Information Technology field today. Based on the SDN Network IT professionals see the potential of an SOA -- especially a web services-based SOA -- in dramatically speeding up the application development process They also see it as a way to build applications and systems that are more adaptable, and in doing so, they see IT becoming more agile in responding to changing business needs. Not only is SOA a hot topic, but it's clearly the wave of the future. Gartner reports that "By 2008, SOA will be a prevailing software engineering practice, ending the 40-year domination of monolithic software architecture" and that "Through 2008, SOA and web services will be implemented together in more than 75 percent of new SOA or web services projects." Bell articulately describes the concepts, specifications, technical nuisances and standards behind service orientation and Web Services. One primary objective of applying SOA in design is to provide business value to the solutions we build. Understanding the right approach to analyzing, designing, and developing service-oriented solutions is critical. This book is a must read!"
Book Description
The only classroom-based training and self-assessment system! This study guide provides 100% complete coverage of all objectives for the Sun Certified Architect for J2EE exam. Based on 300,000+ hours of IT training experience, the book contains hundreds of practice exam questions and hands-on exercises. The CD-ROM features full practice exam software with interactive tutorials and lab simulations, plus an adaptive test engine.
Customer Reviews:
too many errors.......2007-07-23
The book has a lot of errors, but is actually good in some areas. The CDROM is unbelievable. It is as if it were a first draft of the book. The practice exams on the CD make no sense at times and are worthless as a study aid.
very good book.......2006-11-16
The overall quality of the book is very good. The JMS chapter is particularly terrific.
a bit informatin here and there.......2006-08-28
The book has some useful information about J2EE here and there, but since this is a book serves a guidance for the SCEA exam, most of the contents are either too shallow or irrelevant for that purpose. Don't expect that you can rely on this book only and pass the exam.
There are some errors in the self check questions, but most of the time, the answers given are the oppsite of the correct answers to the question asked and I believe these are editing problems.
Copied from Sun Documentation.......2006-05-25
The statements in the book reads as a SUN document. So if you dont want to take the trouble to sit in front of a computer and search through all the links for certification objectives in SUN website, you can purchase this book.
Poorly written book with many redundant and confusing info.......2006-01-05
I am using this book for J2EE study. After reading chapter 1 and 2, I have to say this is one of the worst tech books I ever read. The materials are harshly composed, often without a consistent and clear framework on various topics (what an irony on a book about a framework). From time to time, I have the impression that the authors just pulled some paragraphs from various articles and piled them together. This gives me the further impression that the authors don't really understand those subjects well enough to distill the essentials out and present them in an organized manner. Unless you are already an expert in those subjects, you will find yourself confused by this book and walk away with more questions than before.
Definitely not recommended for anybody.
Customer Reviews:
A very poor book on EA.......2006-09-07
About 4 pages of this book concern Zachman. The rest of the book largely avoids any enterprise architecture topic.
The confused authors, and some reviewers here, do not understand the difference between enterprise architecture and software architecture.
The title of this book mimics the very popular PDF document "A Practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture", written for government EA practice. It may seem odd, but US government practice is at the forefront of EA because the organizations are huge and the IT budgets massive. Look for this PDF file on the CIO council website or www.egov.gov. This begs the question of if the authors wanted to steal from the popularity of the earlier work and take advantage of those without a deep knowledge of EA- such as most programmers.
Missing from the book are things like TOGAF, FEAF, DODAF. Also missing is the practical list of artifacts in Scott Bernard's EA3 book. Come to think of it, get Scott's book, DODAF vol 1 & 2, the PDFs at www.egov.gov under the EA link, FEAF v 1.1 (PDF) and you will be far ahead of this confused mishmash of OO religion and EA misinformation.
I've been doing this for about 20 years, so I may be entitled to an opinion.
The title is misleading. The book is NOT a practical guide to Enterprise Architecture.......2006-08-19
The title 'A Practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture' led me to expect a book that dealt with the processes, challenges and techniques for creating an ENTERPRISE architecture. It does not. The book is about various technology frameworks. The Contents lists Systems Architectures, Solution Architectures and Service Oriented Architectures but not Enterprise Architecture. Enterprise Architecture is skimmed over in the Preface. The book barely touches on Zachman and Spewak and Hill. It ignores FEAF, TEAF, TOGAF, PERA, C4ISR, the Clinger-Cohen Act and other ENTERPRISE stuff completely. Enough said. Whatever this book is, is it is NOT a practical guide to ENTERPRISE Architecture. The book may be of use to technical architects designing solution-frameworks to support an Enterprise Architecture.
Outstanding Enterprise Architecture Book.......2006-08-12
I picked up this book today to get a some input on a pending Enterprise Architecture effort I am pursuing for a large organization. This book blows me away with a straight forward evaluation of a number of enterprise architecture approaches. It gives examples of methods to sell enterprise architectures to customer organizations. One of the greatest difficulties in enterprise architecture is communicating its value to lay people. This book does a great job of spelling things out in simple English. I am an experienced Enterprise Architect. I have been in the field for about 5 years. This book is practical and provides a number of excellent ideas for people in the trenches trying to solve true enterprise problems that span process, data, information, technology, applications/systems, and information assurance architectures. This book is a must have for practicing Enterprise Architects. This is a practical guide and not a pseudo-intellectual academic treatise. This gets 5 stars from me. Bravo!
Don't bother.......2006-02-09
book does not discuss enterprise architecture -- doesn't cover some of the methods, frameworks, and the purpose for EA. Doesn't even give a definition of what EA is. Contains several disjointed chapters with topics that are remotely related to EA but does not even begin to tie together or address the queston "what is EA?" You can do better with free online resources.
This book is not about EA.......2005-12-25
Completely missed the Enterprise side of the equation. As an introduction or practical guide this book is next to useless. I gave this book one star and someone it appeared as four !!!!!
Book Description
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.
Order your copy today!
Customer Reviews:
Good, clear read.......2004-04-13
A good primer, clearly defined concepts and a writing style that cuts thru the jargon right to the point. Others have expounded the overall virtues of the book, I'll only echo the earlier review praising Chapter 2's definitions.
If you are an executive, senior manager, or just an IT professional looking for the "no BS" answer, and need a clear, concise overview of this sometimes complicated subject so you can make informed decisions on utilizing (or recommending) web services in your business, this book is for you.
Executive guide is right........2004-03-06
There is not enough detail here to make this book worth the money. Don't waist your time, there are many other books here that will fill in the details, this is not one of them.
Make Business Sense of Your Web Initiatives.......2003-08-11
Web-based initiatives can be as simple or complex as looking at the night sky. The technology choices from programming languages to servers to networks to security can be overwhelming. Add to the mix the types of Internet-based business systems desired and demanded by customers along with the ability to implement them and you can find a state of confusion and uncertainty.
Eric and Mark do a superb job of helping executives understand how to take realistic steps to solve the technology conundrum and how best to approach Web-based initiatives that will bring the greatest value to achieving business goals. Without such a book, this journey can be daunting.
The thought leadership presented in the book takes the reader from the application of innovative uses of current technologies to the leading edge of future applications and architectures; all compartmentalized into four phases of adoption.
A great dissertation that is ahead of the pack in toning down the hype of Web Services while presenting a realistic view of the tremendous value that can be achieved.
A must read for anyone venturing into Web Services!.......2003-05-21
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!
Great job explaining Web Services.......2003-05-06
"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.
Book Description
The great Gothic cathedrals of Europe are among the most astonishing achievements of Western culture. Evoking feelings of awe and humility, they make us want to understand what inspired the people who had the audacity to build them. This engrossing book surveys an era that has fired the historical imagination for centuries. In it Robert A. Scott explores why medieval people built Gothic cathedrals, how they built them, what conception of the divine lay behind their creation, and how religious and secular leaders used cathedrals for social and political purposes. As a traveler's companion or a rich source of knowledge for the armchair enthusiast, The Gothic Enterprise helps us understand how ordinary people managed such tremendous feats of physical and creative energy at a time when technology was rudimentary, famine and disease were rampant, the climate was often harsh, and communal life was unstable and incessantly violent.
While most books about Gothic cathedrals focus on a particular building or on the cathedrals of a specific region, The Gothic Enterprise considers the idea of the cathedral as a humanly created space. Scott discusses why an impoverished people would commit so many social and personal resources to building something so physically stupendous and what this says about their ideas of the sacred, especially the vital role they ascribed to the divine as a protector against the dangers of everyday life.
Scott's narrative offers a wealth of fascinating details concerning daily life during medieval times. The author describes the difficulties master-builders faced in scheduling construction that wouldn't be completed during their own lifetimes, how they managed without adequate numeric systems or paper on which to make detailed drawings, and how climate, natural disasters, wars, variations in the hours of daylight throughout the year, and the celebration of holy days affected the pace and timing of work. Scott also explains such things as the role of relics, the quarrying and transporting of stone, and the incessant conflict cathedral-building projects caused within their communities. Finally, by drawing comparisons between Gothic cathedrals and other monumental building projects, such as Stonehenge, Scott expands our understanding of the human impulses that shape our landscape.
Customer Reviews:
A real pleasure.......2006-09-01
Well written and wonderfully informed, this well designed book presents a comprehensive review of the appearance and use of the great cathedrals and abbey churches built across the middle ages in France and England. It also includes a wonderfully precise presentation of the social, economic, and political order of the time, and it discusses how the great buildings were built and what is known of their builders. Overall, it is the best general introduction I know of, easily accessible to non experts and a wonderful review for the better informed.
Outstanding book.......2006-01-30
The people who reviewed this book before me did a great job of describing this wonderful book, so I'm not going to repeat their observations. However, one aspect of the work I personally appreciated was the way Scott examined the cathedrals as architectural responses to the cultural context. His analysis is clear and straightforward. Excellent book!
Grand undertaking.......2005-09-24
Author Robert Scott had much the same the experience at Salisbury Cathedral as I had - a sense of awe and wonder, and a desire to learn more about it, not just as a place, or as an architectural wonder, or as a place of worship, or as a cultural icon. Scott wanted to get at the heart of the idea of the Gothic enterprise as a whole - a trained sociologist, Scott knew that the bigger picture is sometimes lost by too narrow a focus on particular details to the exclusion of others. The sociology background also gave Scott a sense of wanting to understand the hearts and minds of the people involved.
While the principal focus of Scott's travels started with Salisbury Cathedral (in full, the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Salisbury), Scott draws examples from the breadth of the Gothic cathedrals, churches and other buildings. There are literally thousands of such dotted across the European and European-influenced landscapes. Each building has its own unique characteristics, but they share a common spirit.
Church building in particular was 'big business' in Christendom for a long time. Scott quotes estimates of that there are nearly 19,000 ecclesiastical buildings in England and Wales, nearly half of which date to the medieval period. The first Gothic church was the Abbey Church of St. Denis, just north of Paris, built under the direction of the 'founding father' of Gothic style, Abbot Suger.
Scott's first major section looks at how cathedrals were built, in terms of materials, architectural design, settings, and workforce. With regard to the workforce, the numbers were large and the division of labour highly specialised. In the records of the construction of Westminster Abbey, there were fifteen different categories of workers listed in 1253. Workers were often local, but supplemented by those who traveled, particularly if special skills were needed. Construction was often suspended in winter months, not just because of the cold, but because the number of daylight hours greatly diminished (in England, there can be fewer than 8 hours of daylight in the winter months).
Scott's second major section explores the history involved. The Gothic enterprise grew up out of the feudal system as it was trying to define itself in a sea of shifting political structures. It is no mistake that the Gothic ideal was born in an Abbey rather than a Cathedral; bishops had become increasingly involved in secular and political matters, while the monasteries remained closer to the common people and closer to the spiritual ideals of the church. 'Monasticism was a continuous effort to surmount sense perception and intellectual understanding to achieve knowledge of God, to experience communion with God, and by so doing to reveal the divine mystery and achieve special favour in the eyes of God.' Still, the particular abbey of Gothic's foundation, the Abbey of St. Denis, had a particular attachment to the French monarchs, and for a time the Abbey enjoyed a supreme reputation, 'from 1124 onward the Abbey Church of St. Denis became the religious and, in an important sense, the political capital of France.' From this place, the influence of Gothic style spread through the Paris region, then outward into France and beyond.
In the third section, Scott highlights some of the classic details of what the Gothic look entails. There is a geometric symmetry involved, which, 'when followed consistently, gives Gothic cathedrals their characteristic organic unity.' There is a logic and harmony built into the design. High vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, pointed arches are other features. However, the key element in Gothic design is light, and it is in aid of this aspect that the other elements are enlisted. Gothic cathedrals in comparison with the dimly lit Romanesque predecessors are flooded with light. Be it clear or stained glass, the incorporation of windows and lighting techniques hitherto not done makes the Gothic space a brighter surrounding. Heaven would be a place of light, and the Gothic cathedral is intended as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.
The fourth section explores the religious experience in Gothic structures, and how liturgies and worship are carried out, how they serve as temples of the imagination in addition to being the centre of worship, and how they become a repository of history. Part of this history was the incorporation of the memory and power of the dead into the fabric of the cathedrals - many became pilgrimage sites or burial sites; royal and other notable society figures also became part of the structures of cathedrals and churches. According to Scott, the cathedrals provided the saints with a focal point of veneration, and the saints in return provided a steady income (from the pilgrims) for the buildings to be completed.
The final section looks at the community that surrounded the Gothic enterprise, be they parish churches, abbey churches or cathedrals. Scott explores the living standards of the time, the stratification and specialisation of people in the different roles in society, and the questions not only of how the communities built the churches, but how the churches and cathedrals in turn built the communities. 'We might ...imagine that the long time required to build Gothic cathedrals added to the depth of the collective identity they engendered.' Indeed, in some regards, the building of a cathedral was never supposed to be completed. Spanning generations (sometimes, as in the case of Canterbury Cathedral, nearly 400 years) such enterprises defined the community in ways that no building project in modern times could approach.
Scott ends with a small essay regarding Stonehenge, not too far from Salisbury Cathedral, showing some similarities and differences in the way people built and found identity then.
Scott quotes Samuel Johnson as declaring Salisbury Cathedral 'the last perfection in architecture'; however, it is clear that there is much perfection to go around when it comes to all things Gothic. Scott's passion for the material and love of discovery is apparent on every page. A good writer, he serves as teacher, tour guide, and co-discoverer of ideas with the reader. This is a wonderful book.
A New Perspective on Gothic Cathedrals.......2004-01-15
I would highly recommend Robert A. Scott's new book, The Gothic Enterprise. Although many books have been published on the topic of Gothic Cathedrals, Scott has approached his subject with a new perspective. He asks the reader to think as much about the "why" of cathedral building as the "how." The reader will still find lots of information about the practical aspects of cathedral building, most helpfully enhanced by a discussion of the social, political, economic, and even climatological factors that complicated such long and challenging construction projects. But above and beyond this, Scott is interested in the people who conceived, designed, and built these great churches. What motivated them? How did hundreds of people with varying and often conflicting interests work collectively over long periods of time? What did an individual or a community expect in return for their contribution to such a bold undertaking?
Scott answers these questions and more. In turn he challenges the reader to see the cathedral in a new light, not only as an example of great architecture, but as tangible evidence of the commitment, creativity, hope, and faith of the people who, against great odds, undertook such a bold and difficult enterprise.
Having visited dozens of cathedrals, I think Scott is right on target. A cathedral is more than an amalgamation of stone, timber, and glass. If we look closely, we can still see traces of the contributors: in a mason's mark, the carved face of an 800 year-old effigy, a bishop's ring, or an irreverent carving high in the rooftops. It is the collective presence of these long-dead individuals, as much as the grandeur of the architecture that makes a cathedral so memorable, so tangibly the result of a collective human enterprise.
Scott's book is beautifully packaged with many photos and charming illustrations. It would be a handy guide for a traveler visiting cathedrals or a great read for an armchair traveler. I suspect the reader of The Gothic Enterprise will never see a cathedral in quite the same way again.
Great for both new and experienced enthusiasts.......2004-01-07
This book is both a wondrous introduction to Gothic Cathedrals for those who are newly curious about them and a concise but thorough resource for those who have long admired and read about the Gothic Cathedral. The author often takes a personal approach in his narrative, which seems quite appropriate given the personal impression these buildings were designed to make (and have made on most who will read this book). The book is both well-researched and easy to read, a difficult achievement. Its description of the elements of Gothic architecture, for example, is one of the most complete and clear treatments I have read.
The broad perspective taken (historical, intellectual, religious, architectural, sociological) helps bring together into one coherent whole the many different faces of the cathedral. Even those who may know the historical and intellectual origins of the cathedral will learn much about its other aspects here. For example, some of the details on construction techniques and parts of the discussion of "sacred spaces" within the cathedral were new even to someone who has read many books on the subject.
Medieval intellectual history and its relationship to the cathedrals is explored, and the coexistence of the potentially conflicting reason and faith in a single building is explained. Some discussion of how the cathedrals and their attached schools gave rise to the medieval (and hence the modern) university would have been helpful.
Overall, though, the book provides an excellent introduction to the topic and a comprehensive explanation of the "why" and "how" of Gothic Cathedrals (in addition to the more mundane, but still important, "who", "when", and "where").
Before this book, one would have to read many volumes to get such a complete picture of the Gothic Cathedral. This book is appropriate for anyone with an interest in the subject. It is the book that I'm sure many Gothic Cathedral enthusiasts wish they had written.
Book Description
New concepts and technologies are being introduced continuously for application development in the World-Wide Web. Selecting the right implementation strategies and tools when building a Web application has become a tedious task, requiring in-depth knowledge and significant experience from both software developers and software managers.
The mission of this book is to guide the reader through the opaque jungle of Web technologies. Based on their long industrial and academic experience, Stefan Jablonski and his coauthors provide a framework architecture for Web applications which helps choose the best strategy for a given project. The authors classify common technologies and standards like .NET, CORBA, J2EE, DCOM, WSDL and many more with respect to platform, architectural layer, and application package, and guide the reader through a three-phase development process consisting of preparation, design, and technology selection steps. The whole approach is exemplified using a real-world case: the architectural design of an order-entry management system.
Customer Reviews:
vendor-neutral analysis.......2005-09-10
There are a whole host of web related technologies or methods or architectures out there. Choosing which of these to use to implement your web site application can be very difficult. The problem is that most texts are each about a particular choice of technologies. In contrast, this book offers a vendor neutral analysis of the main offerings. Which is the best virtue of the book.
The authors explain the main methods for remote application development. Like Remote Method Interface [RMI] or Remote Procedure Calls [RPCs]. Heavily pushed by Sun Microsystems and others during the 90s. Also in that decade was the rise of CORBA and SOAP. These addressed the problem of code compatibility, when a program written in one language wished to call a routine in another program running on a different computer. Alas, CORBA's binary nature and overall complexity was soon revealed.
Then the book surveys the more recent Web Services. This has garnered its own slew of acronyms and standards - WSDL, UDDI, WS-BPEL etc. Just trying to keep a coherent picture of all this is very daunting.
Plus, let us not forget Microsoft's massive push into .NET, to compete with Sun's J2EE. There is much common functionality between this. Though .NET binds you to Microsoft's operating systems, and J2EE can be used outside Sun's machines.
Kudos to the authors for trying to help us through this mess.
Book Description
The book was written in an attempt to answer some of the common sense business questions related to Enterprise Architecture. What are the issues? What is Enterprise Architecture? Why should an organization consider Enterprise Architecture? And how to build the Enterprise Architecture.
An innovative Enterprise Architecture Framework is proposed. The framework looks like a content page showing the chapters of a book or in this case the components of the Enterprise Architecture without actually describing them but showing how they fit into the whole.
The book then identifies and summarises Best Practices in the Enterprise Architecture development. Practices will be outlined at each phase of a proposed Enterprise Architecture building process which in itself becomes a suggested good practice.
The book is intended to be a document essentially summarising why and how to build an Enterprise Architecture.
Customer Reviews:
Worth your money.......2007-05-02
It is quite compensive, which nearly cover all of the EA's area.
If you are interesting in knowing the real business case and issue
i strongly recommend you read some chapter of this book.
Average customer rating:
- about Enterpise Service Architecture book
- marketing material
- More about history than about technology...good for managers
- Awful Book
|
Enterprise Services Architecture (O'Reilly Field Guide to Enterprise Software)
Dan Woods
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
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Packaged Composite Applications: An O'Reilly Field Guide to Enterprise Software
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SAP NetWeaver For Dummies
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Enterprise Services Architecture: Designing IT for Business Innovation
ASIN: 0596005512 |
Book Description
Enterprise Services Architecture outlines a disciplined and structured approach to understanding how today's enterprise applications will make use of web services. This book, aimed at senior management and IT professionals, presents a forward-looking architecture that can meet future development challenges with ease and agility. "Enterprise Services Architecture, as described in this book, is an application of service-oriented architecture and sound principles of object-oriented design applied to the current heterogeneous world of IT architecture. Enterprise services are the high-level components that aggregate web services into reusable elements. The new world of Enterprise Services Architecture will change the way all vendors build applications and the way companies use them. Monolithic applications will be broken apart into layers and offered as components. The reduced cost of integration and flexibility will make design, modeling, and architecture vital commodities as companies craft the optimal structure out of these components. The benefit should be the ability to optimize the business without a bottleneck in the IT infrastructure, which is too often the case. The ultimate goal of this book is to help our customers and the marketplace at large come to grips with the architectural revolution that is underway." --Hasso Plattner, Chairman, SAP AG Supervisory Board This book was commissioned by SAP and will be used by SAP to promote their products. We're making it available through our retailers because we believe the information in it is of interest to readers outside of SAP's immediate sphere.
Customer Reviews:
about Enterpise Service Architecture book.......2007-03-08
ESA is a book a lot interested. In it we find a clear explanation of the reasons that have carried the company leader in the computer science solutions for the companies, SAP AG, has to develop to this architecture founded on the principles of the service oriented architecture where the fundamental members are the enteprise services. They are an aggregation of web services with a value of business that they render them works them to the processes that must support. Thanks to ESA the IT transforms from neck of bottle to one fundamental instrument for the change.
marketing material.......2005-11-17
This book and its sister book on PCA does exactly what the introduction says it won't, it's nothing but marketing material. It is full of consultant doublespeak and absolutely no substance.
More about history than about technology...good for managers.......2004-03-24
In the second book in the series between O'Reilly and SAP, author Dan Woods takes the reader through an interesting tour of Enterprise Services Architecture and the evolution of WebServices(WS). He makes a business case for applying WS in the enterprise and argues that despite slow standardization and lack of broader vendor support, WS strategy will surely benefit early adapters.
For starters get this - The concept of Web Services was actually conceived by SAP! Woods shares the historical perspective and speaks about implementing the very first SOA based applications while working at SAP. The thin UI layer of MySAP.com uses a services layer to communicate with loosely coupled components and data services.
This book is aimed at senior management and IT professionals involved in building software solutions for the ever-changing enterprise landscape. This is a book about the philosophical, ideological and evolutionary significance of SOA. In the section titled Making a business case for the use of SOA, Woods looks at Ent.Web Services through the eyes of a consultant, an analyst, a venture capitalist and finally a system integrator, and quotes from the very best industry experts in each of these domains. Beyond the trenches of IT shops, in what Woods describes as Part Engineering discipline and part Computer Science applied to practical business problems, he hypothesizes that pervasive use of Web services will ultimately result in an incremental improvement towards a more efficient society. Efficiency will primarily apply to reduce annoyances of everyday life such as filing for taxes, setting up health insurance or getting a driver s license. Freed up human capital will cumulatively help build efficient, elegant and practical living conditions for all.
Ajith Kallambella
[...]
Awful Book.......2004-03-12
I don't know what kind of servers Mr. Woods designed, but this book was no help whatsoever.
Book Description
An unprecedented opportunity to learn from the experts at one of the world's most prestigious m-commerce solutions providers
One of the top management and IT consulting firms in the world, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGEY) develops cutting-edge wireless and enterprise IT solutions for many of the Fortune 1000 companies. This book offers application developers and architects, network engineers, and other IT professionals an unprecedented opportunity to benefit from the experiences of key members of CGEY's m-commerce and mobile/wireless groups. Using in-depth case studies detailing recent CGEY wireless projects, the authors share the lessons they've learned about architecting m-commerce applications. They also provide architects with a wealth of practical information on troubleshooting technical solutions within the business deployment infrastructure.
* The first technical book on wireless strategy from one of the "Big 5" consulting firms
* Provides leading technical experiences to help architects troubleshoot solutions from lessons learned from CGEY's finance and commerce projects
Customer Reviews:
Pragmatic Solution and not a Dogmatic Hypothesis.......2002-04-23
An excellent collection of solid practical content, a book that can be chosen as an academic course to be taught in variety of engineering disciplines such as electronics, computer science, Internet Technologies, etc. because of its solid practical approaches to deliver solution as opposed to hypothesizing on untested value propositions.
In the era when many people rush to write books on any new technical catch phrase for the mere gratification of having authored a technical book that may augment their professional aspiration, the authors of "Wireless Enterprise Application Architecture" have provided the reader with a reference book that is a valuable knowledge source. Relatively small font size and condensed and to the point graphics that enhance readers understanding of major points discussed in the 630 pages of text are all indication of authors being the true subject matter specialists.
The views presented in the book are both from 35000 feet and at the landing level suitable for enterprise strategists as well as technical and tactical workforce.
World-Class Advice.......2001-11-30
I was drawn to this book because I figured a big outfit like Cap Gemini Ernst & Young must have learned a lot, probably the hard way, showing clients how to build a wireless infrastructure that turns profits. And it turns out that's just what I found here. There are lots of examples in this book, ones from the best consultants in the world, that I can use with my own clients.
Impressive and Highly Relevant.......2001-11-27
I was doing research for our company's wireless project and came across this book. The chapters on wireless in the supply chain were excellent and highly relevant to my project. I wish I had known about them before I presented my findings to my colleagues. Either way, the book will serve as an excellent reference for my project.
Great Reference Book.......2001-11-20
What I most liked about this book was the approach they used to provide business justification for technological decisions. It provides the approach necessary to avoid purchasing the wrong technology for the wrong reasons, ie: purchase it because it was featured in the latest tech magazine as the coolest technology when it really is a poor fit to our requirements.
This is a good read and a must buy.
mCommerce architecture explained from the field.......2001-11-20
This book pulls together a number of sources from across the globe and gives an in depth explanations of a number of wireless architectures. It not only explaines key featuers of those architectures but also provides case studies which put them into context. Great for the budding and the experienced architect!
Average customer rating:
- Rich detail/excellent methodology
- An "invidious" book to read
- Excellent secondary text on architecture
- Great Book for the Practicing Enterprise Architect
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Guide to Enterprise IT Architecture
Col Perks , and
Tony Beveridge
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 0387951326 |
Book Description
IT architecture is a critical tool that defines the components or building blocks that comprise an organization¿s overall information system. This guide provides a comprehensive and practical introduction and reference for the IT architecture design of an enterprise organization¿s information system. Covering the full spectrum of IT technical architectural concerns---from technical issues and flexible method development to business strategy and models---the reader is guided through the cycle of design and development with proven methods and practices. The presentation is primarily based on the method of The Open Group Architectural Framework (TOGAF) standards. Features and topics: *comprehensive and unified overview of all aspects of IT architecture design, implementation and strategic adaptability *detailed examples and case studies to systematically illustrate development methods and the process cycle *extensive summary charts, tables, and step-by-step procedures for quick use and reference *uses the TOGAF development framework and process, the accepted international standard for an enterprise *presents comprehensive explanation of the IT technical architecture concepts and methods *integrates strategic issues with the context and content of IT architecture design to ensure strategic goals are incorporated This highly readable reference provides a rich resource of tools and strategic insights for all practitioners, professionals and developers in information technology, database systems, and enterprise systems administration. With its accessible style and intuitive topic development, the book is an authoritative guide to the power, versatility and strategic utility of IT architecture.
Customer Reviews:
Rich detail/excellent methodology.......2004-07-02
I'm an engineer, not a literature major, so I've learned to plow through dense text to find the important facts and features of subjects that are useful in my job. This book and the architecture methodology it describes is rich in detail and based on sound principles.
Every major best practice in architecture is included: structure, discreet layering, separation of concerns, technical accuracy, and business focus. The company I word for uses the 4+1 architecture methodology, which is not far off from the methodology given in this book. I've found a lot of ideas in this book that I can use on the job without violating our comoany standards, and I am sure that as time goes on I'll discover more because I refer to this book a lot.
If you want to complain about writing I recommend changing careers to something more suitable like writing novels. If you want to keep current in architecture and best practices read this book.
An "invidious" book to read.......2004-06-22
This tome (scholarly book) may have a great purport (purpose), but the message is hidden in the sempiternity (endless amount)of $5 words. In fact, after reading this book, I feel like I've mastered a study in Roget.
It seems obvious to me the authors had their thesauraus wide open while writing this book, and only for the purpose of impressing us with their vast command of the English language. The author also continually speaks in parantheses (meaning, he slices a sentence in two, therefore distracting the reader from the original intent). Sarcasm intended.
In summary, find a book that is readable. This one isn't.
Excellent secondary text on architecture.......2004-04-13
This book describes the Open Group's Architecture Framework, which is a structured approach to developing an architecture based on a sequence of steps outlined in their architecture development method.
The book sets the context for architecture in general in the first three chapters, covering an introduction to technical architectures in general, addressing specific issues related to architecture with respect to business alignment, technologies, cost factors, etc.; and delving into the business foundation that [should] drive the architecture.
Subsequent chapters cover each step in the architecture development method in detail. Specific steps are:
Phase A: Architecture Vision: Define scope; create vision; obtain approvals
Phase B: Business Architecture: Develop a Business Architecture
Phase C: Information System Architectures: Develop Data and Applications Architectures
Phase D: Technology Architecture: Develop a Technology Architecture
Phase E: Opportunities and Solutions: Checkpoint suitability for implementation
Phase F: Migration Planning: Prioritize work; Select major work packages; Develop migration plan Phase G: Implementation Governance: Provide architectural oversight of the implementation
Phase H: Architecture Change Management: Establish procedures for managing change to new architecture
Although this book covers an approach to architecture that is not mainstream, it is viable and well developed. I especially like the clearly articulated description and detail, which are reinforced with illustrations that bring the text to life. Moreover, the authors pay attention to all life cycle factors, particularly maintenance and post implementation support. Additional information about the Open Group Architecture Framework can be found on the sponsoring web site (ASIN B00006G0R7).
This book is, in my opinion, a secondary text on architectures and more suited to seasoned system and technical architects who are seeking to expand their knowledge of architecture methods. The approach set forth can be applied to the development and implementation of any architecture, making this book an asset to the discipline's body of knowledge.
Great Book for the Practicing Enterprise Architect.......2004-04-05
While this book is written around the TOGAF, its impact is wide ranging. I read this book together with HANDBOOK OF ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE by Bernus et. al. Both form great text books for Graduate Level courses aimed at practitioners rather than theoreticians. Go for it, its steep price is justified...
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Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Concepts, Technology, and Design (The Prentice Hall Service-Oriented Computing Series from Thomas Erl)
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Service Oriented Architecture For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
