I was asked to participate in the new “SOA Data Integration Architect Community,” or SDIAC, which launches today. As most of you know, I don’t like to work with vendor-focused standards bodies or on-line communities, but I found out quickly that this was very different.

“The SOA Data Integration Architect Community is the world’s first open and free community that focuses on the value of data integration and data services in agile architectures such as SOA. This one-of-a-kind community will bring together software professionals who will contribute to and be involved in software architecture, to raise awareness about the foundational value of data in enterprise architecture. This includes enterprise architects, application architects, data architects, solution architects, IT architects and IT managers responsible for or contributing to enterprise architecture, across all industries and verticals.”

This is an independent community created by those who want to share ideas, provide advice, and ask questions. This is an open community, and all are welcome to share experiences, without regard to the technology and vendors they employ for their solution. This is not about selling, this is about learning.

I view this community as being sorely needed, considering the lack of understanding of SOA data integration out there today. Those charged with defining and building core IT architectures are not likely to understand the best practices in defining the architecture for the data up to the services, and up to the processes. They are then left with architectures that are difficult to change, and don’t completely take advantage of the data assets.

So, why should architects care about the SDIAC?

First, you need to become involved in the last mile of SOA – the need to deliver timely, trustworthy and relevant data using data services. Most focus on the “S” in SOA or, “Services.” However, services are only data with behavior, thus the need to focus on the data in order to have a healthy SOA. The experts who are part of the SDIAC can point you in the right directions, and make you successful the first time.

Second, you need the ability to network with your peers. This is not only about information sharing, this is about you learning a great deal, and thus being able to share a great deal. The more knowledge you gather, the better you can assist your client or employer, and the better your career will progress.

Finally, you should care about the ability to work on something significant. The combined knowledge of the community will be persisted for others to cull through, and continue the learning and the discussion. The purpose of this community is not only to provide a place to share knowledge, but a place where ideas are created and nurtured.

I hope you can join me in the SDIAC. It’s clearly a meaningful endeavor.