SOMF conceptual overview
SOMF™ (pronounced 'SOM-F') provides a formal method of defining services at different levels of abstraction. The framework, authored by Michael Bell, provides a technology-independent notation that encourages a holistic view of enterprise software entities, which are treated as service-oriented assets.
This brief introduction and the examples shown are based on the whitepaper, Enacting the Service Oriented Modeling Framework (SOMF) using Enterprise Architect by Frank Truyen of Cephas Consulting Corp.
Implemented as a profile in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect, SOMF facilitates model-driven analysis and design that supports asset reusability. The SOMF modeling notation provides an intuitive approach to visualize “used-to-be”, “as-is” and “to-be” states of the enterprise service portfolio.
The modeling language addresses conceptual, analysis, design, integration, and architecture viewpoints with the purpose of aligning Business and IT concerns within an organization.
Service Analysis Viewpoint
Following are two of SOMF's viewpoints (click to enlarge) as modeled in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect. The example shows services offered by a hypothetical Travel Booking company. The Service Analysis Viewpoint model shows the future-state service orientation, while highlighting the necessary transitions from the current or legacy services landscape.
Business Integration Viewpoint
The Business Integration Viewpoint maps service-oriented assets to business domains, by matching functional capabilities, business value and compatibility. The example shown demonstrates one perspective within this viewpoint – the structural service integration.
Support for SOMF is built directly into Enterprise Architect, as part of a suite of capabilities that facilitate visualization of enterprise services and subsequent model-driven generation of service oriented artifacts such as XML schema, WSDL and BPEL scripts.
For further information on SOMF and Enterprise Architect, see:
- Enacting the Service Oriented Modeling Framework (SOMF) using Enterprise Architect by Frank Truyen of Cephas Consulting.
- A SOMF overview provided by Michael Bell, author of the SOMF framework.
