Task: Document Information Service Realization Decisions |
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This task defines an approach for deciding how to realize the specialized services that address information access and management issues. |
Disciplines: Architecture |
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Purpose
To determine how to realize information services. |
Relationships
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Inputs | Mandatory:
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Outputs |
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Main Description
As is noted in Guideline: Information Service Considerations and Realization Patterns, numerous
special issues revolve around corporate information. These include:
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Spatial distribution of the data needed to define an information entity;
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Unclear data definition;
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Multiple, sometimes conflicting, sources for the same information;
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Lack of standard mechanisms for accessing information.
Special techniques, often requiring use of custom run-time components, can be involved in addressing these
issues. This task describes a general approach for handling information services issues. More information can be
found in the above-referenced Guideline.
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Steps
Identify the information-related issues to be addressed
See Guideline: Information Service Considerations and Realization Patterns, for
a description of eight common information-related issues that either impact or motivate service-based
solutions. Identify which of these impact your situation.
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Use the Data Model to help understand data-specific issues, such as underlying structure, duplication, etc., that
need to be addressed. Work closely with the Data Architect for expert insights into these issues;
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Leverage the Service Model to better understand how the information needs to flow through the service layer of your
solution, and which service providers have been assigned the responsibility for controlling data (see Pattern 08: Model Data Control Points); and
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Refer to the Component Model to comprehend how the underlying Service, Functional, and Technical components deal with data.
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Select appropriate solution pattern(s)
Each of the major data-related issues has general-purpose solutions, expressed in the form of one or more patterns (see the
previously-referenced Guideline). Select the pattern(s) which are most appropriate for the given problem context, to
help define possible solution approaches |
Make sourcing decisions for the information service solution
Decide on, and document in Architectural Decisions, your solution(s) for information service realization.
The same options as were presented in the more general-purpose task, Task: Document Service Realization Decisions, are at play here. Some of the
smaller-scale issues, such as lack of basic service-based access to information, sometimes can be addressed using a
"build" solution. Larger-scale issues, such as data federation, data consolidation, data cleansing, and master
data management, often require a "buy" solution.
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More Information
Licensed Materials - Property of IBM
© Copyright IBM Corp. 1987, 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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