Service-oriented business collaboration reference architecture: Findings from a systematic literature review

Over time, most companies have become aware that the adoption of business collaboration through IT-supported information exchange with mutual partners is vital in stimulating innovation and acquiring a competitive advantage. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) has been preferred by many practitioners to design such collaboration due to its emphasis on the exposure of business services and the orchestration of business processes. A reference architecture based on previous successful research and practices that can be used by both business and IT professionals as a starting point in developing a service-oriented business collaboration (SOBC) solution will be beneficial towards smooth and seamless implementation. However, due to the diverse nature of the industrial domains and organizational structure in which this concept is applied, including the goals and motivations that drive the adoption of SOBC, formulating a solid architectural decision and pattern proved to be a challenge. In this study, a systematic literature review will be carried out to explore the latest developments in service-oriented business collaboration, by exploring what motivates the adoption of SOBC, which industrial domain and organizational structure that apply the concept, and what kind of technologies are commonly utilized to realize the implementation of SOBC.