5th International eDemocracy Conference, Athens, Greece

1. Synthesizing a Criterion for SOA
Reference Architecture to sustain
eParticipation
Muntazir Mehdi, Arkadiusz Stasiewicz, Lukasz
Porwol, Deirdre Lee, Adegboyega Ojo
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2. Acknowledgement
This work and publication has emanated from research supported by
1. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
2. European Union under Project Puzzled by Policy
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3. Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Brief Intro
Motivating Scenario
Approach
Reference Architectures (RA)
Importance of RA
Criterion for RA
Service Oriented Architectures (SOA)
Reference Architectures in context of SOA
Criterion for SOA-RA
eParticipation SOA-RA
Conclusion
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4. Introduction
Client-Server Architecture
Client
Server
2/3 tier Architecture
Client
Multi-Tier Architecture
Client
Application Server
Database Server
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5. Introduction
• Service Oriented Architectures (SOA)
• SOA itself is an evolving architecture
Evolution: http://blog.zopim.com/2013/11/28/evolution-sale/
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6. Introduction
• Reference Architectures (RA)
• RAs in context of SOA (SOA-RA)
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7. Motivation
• eGovernment
 Extensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
 eParticipation is an important component of eGovernment
• eParticipation Tools

Blogs

Discussion Forums

Wikis

Social Media Platforms (Facebook and Twitter)
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8. Motivation
• Puzzled By Policy (PbP)
 eParticipation tool
 European Commission Project
 Led by INSIGHT @ NUIG, Ireland
 Twelve participating countries (9 European)
• PbP Framework

Policy Profiler

uDebate

Social Media
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9. Motivation
• Inclusion of Social Media Data in PbP

Specifically, Facebook, Twitter

Data retrieval, sharing and integration

High volume of heterogeneous data
• Integration with other eParticipation data

Data Retrieval…………

High volume………
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10. Motivation
• Solution
 Introduction of SOA
 Data integration and sharing made easy through SOA
 Effective SOA?
 Bring RA into the picture
 SOA-RA defined specifically for eParticipation domain
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11. Approach
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12. Reference Architectures (RA)
• Definition

No universal definition

IBM, SAP, ORACLE, MICROSOFOT etc. have their own way of defining RA

Our conclusion: a diagram/pattern/specification or a set of
diagram/pattern/specification to:
1. Depict the administration of system functions
2. Provide a map for how those functions relate to each other.
• Importance[Batke and Didier, 2007]
• Ensure addressing core problem
• Reduces risk of deployment based on known and tested solutions
• Simplifies decision making
• Relies on proven solutions
• Helps bridging cultural gaps
Batke and Didier, 2007. Batke, B. and Didier, P. (2007). The importance of reference architectures
in manufacturing networks. In CIP Networks Conference.
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13. Criterion for RA
• Muller’s Criteria [Muller, 2008]

Should be understandable for all stakeholders

Should be easily accessible

Addresses key issues of domain

Provides consistent models

Should have high quality

Should be up-to-date

Should add value to business
Muller, 2008. Muller, G. (2008). A reference architecture primer. Eindhoven Univ. of Techn.,
Eindhoven, White paper.
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14. Criterion for RA
• Our Criteria

Should be applied in conjunction with Muller’s criteria

Considers level of Abstraction

Takes note of context

Most importantly highlights the goal of RA
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15. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
• Definition

Mostly confused because of different definition in different literatures

A better understanding can be formed after looking at a set of facts
presented by [Linthicum, 2008] and SOA principles enlisted by [Erl, 2006]

SOA triangle
Service Registry
Service Consumer
Service Provider
Linthicum, 2008. Linthicum, D. (2008). Reader roi. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) in the Real World.
Erl, 2006. Erl, T. (2006). Service-oriented Architecture: Concepts, Technology, and Desing. Pearson
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Education India.

16. SOA Reference Architecture (SOA-RA)
• Standard SOA-RA [Group, 2009]
Group, 2009. Group, T. O. (2009). Soa Source Book. Van Haren Publishing.
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17. Criterion for SOA-RA
• Basic Criterion

Make sure to follow general RA Criterion in first place

Collect domain specific requirement

Communicate requirements properly

Involved teams should be made clear about abstraction level, context and
goals

Derive a set of principles from requirements that align with SOA principles

Based on principles, define corresponding concepts

The defined concepts represent the component that will become part of
reference model

The components need to be as much independent and decoupled as
possible

Similar components are combined into layers

Multiple reference models are combined to create a reference architecture
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18. Criterion for SOA-RA
• Most generic and important components

Business rules and business process services

Data sharing and transformation services

Infrastructure and component services

Third party communication services

Identity and security services

Integration and event management services

Packaged application services

Presentation Services, registry and repository services

Messaging Quality and Governance
The list of generic components presented here doesn’t imply direct
application, domain specific requirements might introduce more components
not listed here.
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19. eParticipation SOA-RA
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20. Successful inclusion of Social Media in PbP
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21. Successful inclusion of Social Media in PbP
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22. Sustainability Toolkit
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Usage of existing Web platform
Open-source platform
Best practice guide to piloting
Guide to domain profiling
Available support services
Community directory
Social media channels
http://puzzledbypolicy.moonfruit.com/
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23. Adoption Website
http://puzzledbypolicy.moonfruit.com/
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24. Conclusion
• Successful inclusion of Social media in PBP
• Big Data Management (Volume, Velocity, Variation)
• Successful implementation of SOA for PBP-Social Media
integration component
• Future Work:
• Sentiment analysis of Social Media content
• Integration with other eParticipation tools
• Exploitation of LOD Cloud within eGovernment domain to further sustain
and support eParticipation
Batke and Didier, 2007. Batke, B. and Didier, P. (2007). The importance of reference architectures
in manufacturing networks. In CIP Networks Conference.
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25. Thanks
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