L4 - A Methodology for System Integration Flashcards
What are the two main objectives of this lecture?
Describe a methodology for system integration.
Explain how to perform a complete system integration task in a step-based manner.
What is a methodology in system integration?
A guideline for solving a class of problems using phases, tasks, methods, techniques, and tools.
Why is a system integration methodology needed?
SI projects are complex and require a structured approach.
There is no widely accepted standard methodology for SI.
Helps in documentation and following a step-wise development approach.
What are the three components of the Enterprise Integration Methodology?
Inner ring – steps to solve an SI problem.
Middle ring – deliverables produced by following the methodology.
Outer ring – risks to be managed during the SI project.
Step 1: Understand the End-to-End (As-Is) Business Process
What is the purpose of Step 1 in SI methodology?
To understand the business processes that need integration.
Step 1: Understand the End-to-End (As-Is) Business Process
What are the three main activities in understanding business processes?
Learning the business domain.
Identifying distinct business processes.
Describing and modeling “as-is” processes.
Step 1: Understand the End-to-End (As-Is) Business Process
What are three techniques used to model “as-is” business processes?
Observation – Watching people in their work environment.
Documentation – Reading business manuals and specifications.
Interviewing – Talking to stakeholders to understand business goals and process details.
Example of Step 1
What are some integration needs for Supplier B to join an online trading hub?
- Receive tenders from customers.
- Check availability of requested goods.
- Check customer history.
- Plan delivery.
- Calculate price and discounts.
- Return a quote to the trading hub.
Step 2: Map the Process onto Components
What is the purpose of Step 2?
To map “as-is” process models to existing components such as manual routines, legacy systems, and integration solutions.
Step 2: Map the Process onto Components
How is Step 2 typically documented?
In a table form, mapping available systems and integration for:
Entire as-is process.
Each activity in the as-is process.
Example of Step 2
What integration is needed for the trading hub?
- Automated workflow for handling tenders.
- Integration of involved data.
- New applications for electronic tendering and quoting.
Step 3: Derive Requirements
What are the key requirements derived in Step 3?
- Identify data and services needing integration.
- Define integration solutions (data, service, or process integration).
- Consider quality-related requirements (performance, reliability, security, scalability).
Example of Step 3
What are some integration requirements for an “Order Handling” application?
- Services like Register_to_see_tenders, Receive_tender, etc.
- Documents like tenders, quotes, and customer history.
- Message-oriented middleware for reliability and message routing.
- Process-oriented integration for automation.
Step 4: Produce the Architecture
What is the purpose of Step 4?
To design the overall integration solution architecture, specifying technologies, tools, and relationships.
Step 4: Produce the Architecture
How is the integration architecture presented?
- Graphical Model – Depicts applications and integration middleware.
- Text Description – Explains technologies used (adapters, ESB, MOM, process integrators, etc.).
Step 5: Plan the Integration
What tasks are involved in planning integration?
- Project Scoping – Define subprojects, estimate costs, and assess complexity.
- Project Resourcing – Acquire tools, hire experts, and develop training programs.
Step 5: Plan the Integration
What are the key aspects of architecture design in Step 5?
- Define application interfaces (WSDL, RESTful).
- Specify data formats and document content (XML).
- Model “to-be” processes assigning roles.
- Define messaging infrastructure (MOM), adapters, and process integrators.
Step 5: Plan the Integration
What are the final steps after planning integration?
- Implement the architecture.
- Test the system – Prepare test environment and create realistic test data.
