A business service represents a business function whose behavior
can be adapted at run time. It is based on the operating context of the request
and the policies established to meet the service consumers need.
Business services are defined by three primary elements:
- Business metadata: Consists of business policy information that
dynamically tailors the execution of specific business functions for a single
instance.
- Canonical data model: Consists of standardized representation of
data that dynamically requires you to select and tailor the execution of a
business function.
- Business function: Consists of one or more services that are dynamically
selected based on business policy information. The execution of a business
function leverages a subset of the canonical data model associated with its
function. A business function service implementation, embodying business processes
may range in complexity from simple atomic services to composite services.
Characteristics of business services
Business services
use business policies and metadata to enable flexible and adaptable behavior.
They leverage reference industry models to simplify interoperability across
various internal and external systems. Business services are:
- Designed at business level to represent a discrete business function.
- Provisioned through multiple communication channels such as Web, B2B,
IVR, and others.
- Derived from various IT resources.
- Built using Web service and industry standards.
Benefits of business services
Business services
are the building blocks that align business intent with IT execution. They
help deliver the values of service-oriented architecture (SOA). Business services
have:
- Solution flexibility at lower cost and effort.
- Greater reuse of IT assets.
- Faster solution time-to-market.
- An incremental solution approach that lowers risk.