This excerpt from the upcoming book, Open Source SOA, addresses the Service Component Architecture (SCA), and its sister technology, Service Data Objects (SDO), emerging standards used in service-oriented architecture for creating multi-protocol, multi-language services based on reusable components. Using JBoss jBPM, as the author demonstrates, can apply process automation to a wide set of business process management problems, from embedded workflow to enterprise business process orchestration.

This excerpt from the upcoming book, SQL Server 2008 Administration in Action, introduces the role of service-level agreements (SLAs) as part of a DBA's overall strategy to maintaining reliable Microsoft SQL Server networks.

This excerpt from the upcoming book, Becoming Agile, discusses a necessity in ensuring corporate buy-in for Agile development: creating a collaborative team that can evangelize Agile in the company and shepherd the software engineering methodology through enterprise software development projects.

This book chapter from Executing SOA: A Practical Guide for the Service-Oriented Architect shows how Web 2.0 business concepts apply to businesses, especially those enterprises that adhere to the philosophy of SOA. As people discover the advantages of Web 2.0 in their private lives, they call for getting similar power at their fingertips at work. The advantages exist, and are ready to be exploited. But, the authors explain, there are also challenges to face and obstacles to overcome that derive from the introduction of SOA and Web 2.0 in the enterprise.

The "Brownfield" application development lifecycle differs from that of the traditional waterfall method employed on large-scale developments and instead utilizes a more agile approach, write the authors of Eating the IT Elephant, in this sample book chapter. Learn how agile techniques can apply even with legacy software and large software projects.

The CEO of Shutterfly outpaced competitors by reimagining the online photo-finishing business as a way to build social connections between its customers.

The core of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is configuration management: the discipline of identifying, tracking, and controlling your IT environment's components to gain accurate and timely information for better decision-making. This book chapter explains how to manage the project for achieving those goals.

Agile software development does not occur sequentially, but viewing it from a sequential perspective makes it easier to grasp the concepts. This case study, an excerpt from the new book Becoming Agile, follows a sequential process to accelerate your learning of Agile concepts.

Software has become crucial to the very survival of civilization. But badly written, insecure software is hurting people...and costing businesses and individuals billions of dollars every year. This must change. In his new book, "Geekonomics," David Rice shows how we can change it. Read our excerpt from the book, which compares software and cement.

IT is a business. So why do so many IT leaders do such a terrible job of running their departments like one? Because they put too much emphasis on supply and not enough on demand. In this excerpt from IT Success: Towards a New Model for Information Technology, author Michael Gentle proposes a new model for IT demand management.