Example: Candidate Services Portfolio
This guidance directs the reader to a brief textual example to illustrate the evolution of a candidate services portfolio.
Relationships
Main Description

For simplicity the Service Portfolio can initially be represented as a list of candidate services as shown below.

Service Portfolio

  • 0 Rent Vehicle
  • 1.1 Reserve Vehicle
  • 1.2 Check-out Vehicle
  • 1.3 Check-in Vehicle
  • 1.1.1 Check Rates
  • 1.1.2 Make Reservation
  • 1.2.1 Locate Reservation
  • 1.2.2 Modify Reservation
  • 1.2.3 Create Rental Agreement
  • 1.2.4 Sign-out Vehicle from Lot
  • 1.3.1 Locate Rental Agreement
  • 1.3.2 Process Return Information
  • 1.3.3 Process Payment
  • 1.3.4 Return Vehicle to Lot
  • 1.1.1.1 Get Location (pick-up/drop-off)
  • 1.1.1.2 Get Date/time (pick-up/drop-off)
  • 1.1.1.3 Choose Vehicle
  • 1.1.1.4 Get Options Information
  • 1.1.1.5 Check Vehicle Availability
  • 1.1.1.6 Offer Rates for Selection
  • 1.1.2.1 Confirm Rental Information
  • 1.1.2.2 Get Customer Information
  • 1.1.2.3 Get Payment Information
  • 1.1.2.4 Confirm Reservation
  • 1.1.2.5 Create Reservation

As the number of candidate services increases, an unstructured list can quickly become unmanageable.  Therefore, as soon as possible a service classification scheme needs to be identified so that candidate services can be organized into groups within the classification hierarchy. The Service Hierarchy organizes services in the service portfolio using a uniform classification scheme.  The classification scheme is often based on the functional areas identified by RUP/SOMA Domain Decomposition Functional Area Analysis.  Notation for the Service Hierarchy in an outline format is shown in below.

Service Hierarchy

Rental Category

  • 1.2 Check-out Vehicle
  • 1.3 Check-in Vehicle
  • 1.2.3 Create Rental Agreement
  • 1.2.4 Sign-out Vehicle from Lot 
  • 1.3.1 Locate Rental Agreement
  • 1.3.2 Process Return Information
  • 1.3.4 Return Vehicle to Lot

Payment Processing Category

  • 1.3.3 Process Payment

Reservation Category

  • 1.1 Reserve Vehicle
  • 1.1.1 Check Rates
  • 1.1.2 Make Reservation
  • 1.2.1 Locate Reservation
  • 1.2.2 Modify Reservation
  • 1.1.1.1 Get Location (pick-up/drop-off)
  • 1.1.1.2 Get Date/time (pick-up/drop-off)
  • 1.1.1.3 Choose Vehicle
  • 1.1.1.4 Get Options Information
  • 1.1.1.5 Check Vehicle Availability
  • 1.1.1.6 Offer Rates for Selection
  • 1.1.2.1 Confirm Rental Information
  • 1.1.2.2 Get Customer Information
  • 1.1.2.3 Get Payment Information
  • 1.1.2.4 Confirm Reservation
  • 1.1.2.5 Create Reservation


While a simple list of service names can be a quick starting point, it will eventually be important to capture additional information about each service.  This information can be subdivided into two types: information that supports service identification, and information that supports service specification. 

Service identification is focused on building a portfolio of services that can be associated with business functions, business goals, assets such as existing systems, and an indication of whether the service is considered a candidate service, or has been chosen for exposure.  Table 2 in Template: Service Model in Word can be used to document services at the level of detail needed in the service portfolio.