A business service represents a business function whose
behavior can be adapted at run time. A business service 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 services metadata that consists of roles, channels and
business service policy information that dynamically tailors the execution
of specific business functions for a single instance
- Canonical data model that consists of standardized representation
of data that dynamically requires you to select and tailor the execution
of a business function
- Business functions that consists of one or more services
that are dynamically selected based on business service policy information.
The execution of a business function uses a
subset of the canonical data model associated with its function. A
business function service implementation embodying business processes
can range in complexity from simple services to composite services.
Characteristics of business services
Business
services use business policies and business metadata to enable flexible
and adaptable behavior. Business services use reference industry models
to simplify interoperability across various internal and external
systems. Business services have the following characteristics:
- They are designed at business level to represent a discrete business
function.
- They are provisioned through multiple communication channels such
as Web, B2B, IVR, and others.
- They are subscribeable to multiple roles such as CSR, Customer,
Underwriter, Teller, and others.
- They are derived from various IT resources.
- They are 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 value of a service-oriented architecture (SOA).
Business services have the following benefits:
- Solution flexibility at lower cost and effort
- Reusable IT assets
- Faster solution time-to-market
- An incremental solution approach that lowers risk.