Here’s a quick brain teaser. If Train A leaves the station at 9:00 a.m. going 75 miles per hour and Train B leaves the station at 9:05 a.m. going 85 miles per hour, at what point will Train B pass Train A?

To truly answer this question, you’d have to know where the trains were heading and if they are on parallel tracks, in the same time zone, or country for that matter. And what would happen if Train A accelerated while Train B decelerated? Clearly, there are lots of variables that can impact each train’s arrival to its destination.

SOA strategies, adoption and deployments are not unlike the trains in that certain influences can keep the project going full steam ahead while other factors can cause it to be derailed. Though one fact is certain -- the SOA train has left the station and is picking up momentum around the world.