Using Web Services in An Using Web Services in An Application Integration Application Integration Strategy at Case Western Strategy at Case Western Reserve UniversityReserve University

October 18October 18thth, 2002, 2002Jeff Gumpf, Senior IT ArchitectJeff Gumpf, Senior IT ArchitectInformation Technology ServicesInformation Technology ServicesCase Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University

Tentative StrategyTentative Strategy

Move to a Web services based framework for Move to a Web services based framework for integrating applicationsintegrating applications

Move business logic out of applicationsMove business logic out of applications Move away from custom application-to-application Move away from custom application-to-application

connections to one based on centralized business connections to one based on centralized business logic/workflowlogic/workflow

Create a central repository for enterprise business Create a central repository for enterprise business logic/workflowlogic/workflow

Use the UML (Unified Modeling Language) to model Use the UML (Unified Modeling Language) to model enterprise business logic and informationenterprise business logic and information

Move to a Web Services Move to a Web Services based Integration based Integration FrameworkFramework Use available standards and integration toolsUse available standards and integration tools Evaluate application vendors on the quality and Evaluate application vendors on the quality and

breadth of their Web services based interface and use breadth of their Web services based interface and use of open standardsof open standards

Use what seems prudent while standards and tools Use what seems prudent while standards and tools developdevelop

Be prepared to change as standards and tools evolveBe prepared to change as standards and tools evolve

Move Business Logic Out of Move Business Logic Out of ApplicationsApplications Encourage application vendors to move business logic Encourage application vendors to move business logic

external to the applicationexternal to the application When business logic is built into the application, it is When business logic is built into the application, it is

more difficult to changemore difficult to change Encourages the development of business logic Encourages the development of business logic

libraries for specific business areaslibraries for specific business areas Allows for more open development of business logicAllows for more open development of business logic

Move Away from Custom Move Away from Custom Application-to-Application Application-to-Application IntegrationIntegration We have many instances where custom integration We have many instances where custom integration

occurred between different applicationsoccurred between different applications They are often not well documentedThey are often not well documented The connections are sometimes in series where a The connections are sometimes in series where a

change in an upstream application can have change in an upstream application can have unforeseen and unintended consequences in some unforeseen and unintended consequences in some downstream applicationdownstream application

Many different methods are used to implement the Many different methods are used to implement the integrationintegration

Difficult to manage and maintainDifficult to manage and maintain

Create a Central Business Create a Central Business Logic RepositoryLogic Repository Move enterprise business logic to a central repositoryMove enterprise business logic to a central repository Visible to allVisible to all One place to go to get integration and business logic One place to go to get integration and business logic

informationinformation Easier to determine consequences of changesEasier to determine consequences of changes Can potentially share with othersCan potentially share with others

Use the UML to Model Use the UML to Model Enterprise Business Logic Enterprise Business Logic and Informationand Information UML is a widely accepted modeling standardUML is a widely accepted modeling standard A foundation part of the OMG “Model Driven A foundation part of the OMG “Model Driven

Architecture”, OMG’s next step in helping users solve Architecture”, OMG’s next step in helping users solve integration problems using open, vendor-neutral integration problems using open, vendor-neutral interoperability specificationsinteroperability specifications

A foundation part of the UN/CEFACT Modeling A foundation part of the UN/CEFACT Modeling Methodology (UMM) for business process and Methodology (UMM) for business process and information modelinginformation modeling

A number of candidate standards exist for A number of candidate standards exist for implementing business logic and UML can be made to implementing business logic and UML can be made to map to themmap to them

Eventually it will be possible to implement business Eventually it will be possible to implement business logic from the UMLlogic from the UML

The EndThe End

Thank youThank you