Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) aims to increase a federated perspective of an enterprise by the widespread deployment of standardization. Think...

SOA
(Service Oriented Architecture) is a software design philosophy that incorporates creating
modules that can operate as standardized "black boxes." This type of modularity and
standardization are essential to many of the technologies used in everyday life.

One example of such standardization is electricity. In the United States, most homes
are wired with a 120 volt supply with electrical outlets supporting two-prong type A and
three-prong type B plugs., This means that when one buys electrical or electronic devices in the
Unites States, they will be compatible with the power outlets in buildings throughout the
country. If there were no standardization, buying electrical and electronic devices would
require one to build custom plugs for each device or do extensive rewiring.

Another example of standardization is computer cables such as USB cables which have
standard pins and plugs. In the early days of personal computers, this was not the case, and
users often would pour over diagrams of pin outs and work with soldering irons to build their
own cables to connect printers, modems, and other peripherals to their computers. Now, one can
simply buy standard cables.