World Wide Integration, Inc.
John Schmidt
Enterprise Application Integration is the process of integrating multiple applications that were independently developed, may use incompatible technology, and remain independently managed. From a technical perspective, integration has the effect of adding a "layer" on top of a collection of applications so they "work as one". Integration tools (sometimes referred to as middleware) have been around since the early 1990's as customized tools developed by the IT staff within some large corporations. Starting in 1997, these tools began to appear on the market as packaged off-the-shelf software and the market has exploded since then with now well over 1,000 middle-ware product vendors selling their products into a multi-billion-dollar market.
While integration technology is a necessary and essential ingredient for building enterprise level eBusiness solutions, the tools alone are not enough. Unfortunately, the "theory" and practice of application integration has lagged behind the technology. Successful integration initiatives today are more the result of talented and hard-working staff than through the use of a well-defined and repeatable integration process.
This is where World Wide Integration, Inc. comes in. We help out clients to integrate enterprise applications, off-the-shelf software and legacy applications in order to achieve the key benefits listed below.
Key Benefits of EAI Architecture and Methodology:
- Reduce operational costs by eliminating redundant activities and automating manual tasks;
- Enable eBusiness solutions by directly connecting customers and suppliers to internal systems.
- Accelerate product and service delivery times by streamlining end-to-end business processes;
- Build a sustainable infrastructure by preparing for the ongoing activities right at the outset.
Capabilities
World Wide Integration specializes in enterprise-wide application integration architectures and methodologies; we are not only leading the industry in this regard, we are defining what the industry means by these terms. John Schmidt, President of the company, has developed a number of integration best practices, is Chairman of the Methodology committee for the Integration Consortium, and chaired the Global EAI Summit in 2004. He is a frequent speaker on the topic, has written numerous articles and assisted many large corporations with their integration challenges in several industries including retail, telecommunications, finance and energy.
- Enterprise Architecture
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Architecture refers to the manner in which the components of a computer system are organized and integrated. It is a critical aspect of allowing applications to be developed independently yet allowing them to all work together as part of a larger end-to-end solution once they are deployed. World Wide Integration has developed a multi-tiered non-redundant course-grained architecture to support this goal.
A multi-tiered non-redundant architecture is where the total set of functions involved in the end-to-end integrated solution are provided by distinct layers each of which provides unique and non-overlapping services, The architecture applies to the entire enterprise and is course-grained to provide sufficient consistency at a high level for interoperability while allowing a certain degree of local freedom. Where to draw the line between enforced standards and individual choice is a matter of enterprise culture and policy.
There is no universal standard enterprise architecture so each enterprise must create one. World Wide Integration works with organizations to develop a customized and detailed version of the architecture that aligns with their respective environments. - Integration Methodology
“Methodology” is the systematic analysis and organization of the rationale, principles and processes which guide a discipline. The Integration Methodology is concerned with not just building quality solutions, but more importantly sustaining the solutions over a long period of time at the enterprise level.
The term “Enterprise” can be interpreted in different ways. It usually refers to an entire corporate entity or government agency, but it could also refer to a subsidiary of a corporation or to a collection of entities operating as a supply chain within an industry. Regardless of the scope, the significant point is that Integration Methodology comes into play for application solutions that have the characteristics of “complex adaptive systems”.
Complex systems are ones that involve operations at multiple levels, where dependencies between component applications are at least as (if not more) essential as the applications themselves, and where the behavior of the system is not entirely predictable. Adaptive systems are ones that include a perpetual process of variation and selection within a constantly evolving design.
Computer software can be used to solve problems that range from simple to complex. At the simple end of the continuum we find problems that are well defined, predictable and deterministic. Solutions at this extreme end of the spectrum are often implemented in hardware. As we move along the complexity continuum we begin adding layers of functionality that link together components that have been developed independently and increasingly deal with more dynamic and uncontrollable real-world issues (people, politics, competition, etc.). Integration methodology is focused at solving computing problems at the complex end of the spectrum.
There is a fundamental difference in the approach needed for solving problems with well-defined boundaries and predictable behavior versus problems with non-linear solutions and chaotic behavior. If we look for real-world analogies, Software Engineering is to Integration Methodology as Building Construction is to City Planning. Engineering disciplines work well at one end of the complexity spectrum while the Integration Methodology must address the other end of the spectrum.
A methodology is a kind of "coaching" -- not a formula for producing a result, but a set of principles and practices that can lead to appropriate solutions. World Wide Integration has developed a set of principles as a solid foundation for the development of an approach that can be customized for each enterprise. These principles include lessons learned both from the study of other scientific disciplines and from practical experiences gained from system integration activities over the past 25 years.
Architecture and Methodology Review
Services in this category include assessment of current enterprise architecture or methodology, review of a specific integration initiative with action-oriented recommendations for improving the architecture or methodology, and the preparation of an independent audit report for senior management.
Reference Accounts
Reference accounts are available on request. Please visit the "About Us" web-page for contact information.