OASIS has formed a committee that includes Adobe and SOA Software to develop a
core reference model that will guide and foster the creation of specific, service-oriented architectures (SOA). The new OASIS SOA Reference Model (SOA-RM) Technical Committee will promote the continued development of multiple SOAs and related standards by acting as a guide for those writing SOAs and an analysis of their functional components.

"The term SOA is used in an increasing number of contexts with differing-and even conflicting-meanings," said Duane Nickull of Adobe Systems, chair of the OASIS SOA-RM Technical Committee. "If SOA is architecture, as the name implies, then we should define it as architecture.  The reference model we create will be useful for the entire industry, offering a way to preserve a common layer of understanding across multiple service oriented environments and architectures."

Other committee members include AmSoft, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Fujitsu, General Motors, Infravio, NEC, Reactivity, and VISA.

The SOA reference model "will offer an understanding of the core elements within a service oriented environment and the associations and relationships among those elements," according to OASIS. "The reference model itself will not be directly tied to any standards, technologies or other concrete implementation details. Rather, it will be an abstract, designed to be used as a tool by software and enterprise architects developing specific SOAs."

The OASIS SOA-RM Technical Committee already has more than 45 members, and participation remains open to all organizations and individuals, according to OASIS, "especially those directly involved in the design, documentation, or implementation of SOAs." Archives of the Committee's work are accessible to both members and non-members, and OASIS hosts an open mail list for public comment.