What is an Asset in SOA

What is an Asset in the SOA world?

An asset is something that adds value and provides a solution to a problem. The asset should be reusable in similar contexts and may be customized. Three dimensions describe reusable assets: granularity, variability, and articulation:

• Granularity describes the size and purpose of the solution. Assets may range from fine-grained, meaning they are small in size and purpose, to coarse-grained, meaning it has a larger size and purpose and often contains or refers to fine-grained assets.

• Variability refers to the asset's degree of customization. Variability points allow for the specification of "spots" in the asset that are subject to change. Low variability means that the asset is fixed, with no variability points. High variability means that the asset is quite visible and changeable, with many variability points.

• Articulation is the level of completeness of artifacts in an asset that provides a solution. Low articulation means that the asset has very few artifacts that aid the consumer. High articulation provides artifacts at a great level of detail (for example, requirements, analysis, design, and testing).