Loose couplers

Even the use of loose couplers is now on the verge of a major transition as it expands from the network and data layers to the application layer. Service-oriented architectures (SOAs) are today one of the most talked-about technical approaches for building large complex, information intensive systems. Such architectures are designed to produce reusable, loosely coupled services that enable users to access the functions encapsulated in the application layer. In this context as well, loosely coupled services minimize the a priori knowledge needed by unanticipated users. 

To enable evolutionary development along the enterprise capability roadmap, all organizations must be guided by a stable enterprise architecture, adhere to a common set of standards, and deliver advertised services that perform to defined service-level agreements. The board of directors can serve as an effective mechanism to ensure the adoption of the enterprise architecture and common standards. The loose coupler strategy discussed previously makes it easier to reach agreement on these common foundational elements. Limiting the need for universal... 

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