InfoQ recently reviewed a report published by Saugatuck Technology. One of the conclusions follows:

Implementers are taking a technology-led approach to SOA deployment, even though earlier research showed almost universal agreement that business needs to be in the lead.

I have to agree from my experience in the field. Most projects that try to take on SOA from the IT level usually grind to a halt when they reach the business unit. Its not that the project doesn’t mean well, but most likely the business unit has not considered embracing such integration with the corporation.

If SOA is lead by IT, then it must be done transparently to any business unit that leverages IT. Service Buses and Registry are functions for change management.