4. Based on this case, how would you explain SOA to someone who has never heard of it?

The FINRA SOA project consolidated the NYSE member regulation systems with the NASD member regulation information systems. The primary challenges:
• The two organizations’ application portfolios, which support the member regulation business, had to be consolidated.
Each application portfolio was sizable and heterogeneous.
At the onset, FINRA had 160 applications and NYSE member regulation had 86 applications.
• The two sets of legacy business processes had to be reconciled into a final-state business process.
• Final-state business processes had to seamlessly integrate new systems and existing systems from both legacy organizations.
The existing systems required enhancements.
• Business teams were distributed across the United States in district office locations. The development team was located in New York City and the Washington, D.C., area.