Why This Book Is Important

Today, the encouraging coalescence of opinion among leaders in enterprise architecture is that many enterprise systems have the same architectural approach although not all express it in this way. A similar convergence addresses the kinds of techniques, patterns, and designs that are independent of specific application domains and that enable effective production of responsive, scalable, flexible, and unifiable enterprise applications. This book is important because in many ways it epitomizes that convergence. It addresses the whole range of knowledge required for successful enterprise systems and pulls together many strands, from the essential data foundation (the part of a system that persists when the machine is turned off) through run-time software design, architectural separation of concerns, and scalability patterns, to the much-neglected area of user interface. Of equal importance, it addresses not only what should be built but also how, from tools and modeling, to development process and methodology, to the product line approach, to agile development, and it includes the important question of human organization.

Moreover, what shines through the book is the sheer hardheaded practicality and competence of the authors based on years of experience. This work contains much of the knowledge or pointers to knowledge that a budding enterprise architect needs, expressed in a readable, relevant, and nondidactic presentation. It is also an ideal textbook a foundation work for a graduate course in enterprise architecture. In fact, I suspect it could well become an important part of the institutional knowledge about enterprise systems within our fascinating and vibrant industry.

Oliver Sims
Mortimer West End
May 2003