Building a service-oriented architecture requires great technical skill, but don't forgot that SOA technology first and foremost is about business processes and agility. Following these four tips will help you keep business goals front and center in your SOA planning and development.

Your SOA implementation will require plenty of technology upgrades, but a good project can solve some tactical business problems before it addresses the back-end infrastructure, says Keith Sievers, CIO at Kemper Auto and Home Insurance in Jacksonville, Fla.