Work with ZapThink
SOA & EA Mentorship
ZapMentorship: Hands-on SOA Guidance
ZapAdvisory: Unlimited SOA / EA Advisory
ZapCheck: One-Day Quick Assessment & Sanity Check
SOA Training & Events
SOA & EA Training
SOA & EA Events
SOA Research & Analysis
ZapAdvisory: Unlimited research
ZapFlash Newsletter
SOA & EA Marketing
ZapAccess: Reach the SOA market
Marketing & Visibility
ZapMentorship: Hands-on SOA Guidance
ZapAdvisory: Unlimited SOA / EA Advisory
ZapCheck: One-Day Quick Assessment & Sanity Check
SOA Training & Events
SOA & EA Training
SOA & EA Events
SOA Research & Analysis
ZapAdvisory: Unlimited research
ZapFlash Newsletter
SOA & EA Marketing
ZapAccess: Reach the SOA market
Marketing & Visibility
ZapThink Features
SOA Research
Implementing SOA
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
Service-Oriented Integration (SOI)
SOA Tools & Development
Security & Identity Management
Content & Presentation
Service-Oriented Process
Governance
Best practices
XML Infrastructure
Web Services Management
Web Services
SOA Governance
Composite Application
SOA Management
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
Service-Oriented Integration (SOI)
SOA Tools & Development
Security & Identity Management
Content & Presentation
Service-Oriented Process
Governance
Best practices
XML Infrastructure
Web Services Management
Web Services
SOA Governance
Composite Application
SOA Management
My Relationship
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UPDATED FOR 2008!
SOA Implementation Roadmap Poster
SOA Implementation Roadmap Poster
Version 3.0 of ZapThink's popular Roadmap to SOA adoption - a
one-of-a-kind poster that provides an at-a-glance view at how SOA implementation.
Download for FREE or purchase a 10-pack for $29.95*!
Expand Your SOA Skills and Opportunities:
Become a Licensed ZapThink Architect (LZA)
Become a Licensed ZapThink Architect (LZA)
- Are you an enterprise architect or an aspiring architect looking to get third-party backing for your SOA capabilities?
- Are you not finding what you want in self-serving, vendor-specific "certifications" that don't provide the credentials you need to advance your architecture skills, career, and future direction?
- What does it even mean to have SOA on your list of qualifications?
- Do you want to leverage ZapThink's brand, reach, reputation, and network to advance your SOA efforts?
Increasingly, individuals like you are looking to get the backing of a qualified third-party organization to not only endorse their existing SOA skills, but also enable continuous improvement, enhanced networking with those looking for architecture resources, or enhance their current SOA-enabled careers. ZapThink is filling the unmet need for knowledge and credentials in this area, and we want you to be a part!
What does it mean for ZapThink to Endorse your Capabilities?
While Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) is clearly returning significant and tangible benefits to those that know how to implement the architectural approach properly, to many others, it simply represents the buzzword du jour. Frankly, if you are a end-user architect practitioner, a consultant at a large firm or an independent, or even a vendor with a professional services practice, saying that you "know how to do SOA" is simply not enough. Smart organizations are asking now to dig deeper behind the buzz and want to know what specific skills, capabilities, and credentials you have as a qualified architect.This is where the LZA program steps in. Rather than you having to back your own word that you know how to do SOA. Let us share the burden. We want to not only qualify and credential you to represent yourself with certain skills, but we will prominently mention that fact in our online LZA directory and be willing to provide the credential evidence you need to show that you have what it takes.
What does an LZA Credential mean for your SOA Skills?
Service-oriented Architecture, and indeed all of Enterprise Architecture, is a continuously evolving field. What might be today's best practices might be yesterday's inefficient methods. Furthermore, many SOA "practitioners" lack critical skills around Service design, analysis, organizational alignment, and domain modeling, among other key skills, as well as knowing which artifacts and approaches to use to get the best value from those skills. LZAs are constantly on the cutting edge of the best thought-leadership, expertise, and methodologies for SOA. Learn not only from ZapThink Master Architects on how to do SOA with the best, emerging practices, but also learn from other LZAs. Like a true skills-development program, the LZA credential is an opportunity to sharpen, develop, and extend your skills in SOA.Testimonials, Sample Customers, and Business Benefits
"I have found the LZA program to be invaluable in helping me cut through the vendor-driven hype and confusion that surrounds SOA. The course content is excellent and I found that the presenters had a wealth of experience and understanding that made it simple to understand things that I have been grappling with for months. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to implement SOA in their enterprise." -- Eric Giles, Research & Development Manager, DinguBlue
My experience with the LZA program has been professionally rewarding and enjoyable. Ron Schmelzer and Jason Bloomberg both bring insight and clarity to the extremely complex domain of SOA. The ZapThink team cut through vendor hype and overloaded terminology to leave me with a realistic appreciation of available technology and the knowledge to make the right decisions on the SOA journey. The LZA Boot Camp exercises offer everyone the chance to apply SOA techniques and get immediate, high-quality feedback." -- Ken W. Norton, Licensed Zapthink Architect, 2007 Boot Camp Attendee
ZapThink has run the LZA boot camp and SOA training engagements from one through four days long to the following companies and governmental organizations (partial list):
- AMP, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Alcatel-Lucent, Atos Origin Middle East, BearingPoint, Booz Allen Hamilton, CNA, CTG Solutions, Capgemini , Catalina Marketing, Cognizant, Delta Corporate Services, Deutsche Bank Group, Discovery Health, Ericsson Australia, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fidelity International, Genworth Financial, Harris Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Honeywell, Hypermedia Pty Ltd, IBM, ING, South Australia Police, Infosys, Intunity, Justice Technology Services, LexisNexis, Link Affiliates, ManTech IS&T, NASA Headquarters, NXP Semiconductors, National Library of Australia, National University of Singapore, Nedbank Ltd., Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Novem Consulting Pty Ltd, Oakton, Palm Inc., PepsiCo, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Principal Financial Group, Præstia Partners, Queensland Transport, SAIC, Satyam Computer Services Ltd, Seagate Services / EVault, Siemens, Standard Bank, Sybase, Telus, TSC Technologies, The University of Melbourne, Unisys, Vodafone, Web Age Solutions, Western Power, Westpac Banking Corp, Wipro Ltd, and Woolworths Ltd.
LZA Credential Levels and Requirements
Since architects come in all shapes and sizes, and since the credential program sets a quality bar for those that go through it, ZapThink has the following levels of credential to match your skills and capabilities:Licensed ZapThink Architect
- No prior enterprise architect experience necessary. Completion of four-day LZA Bootcamp including completion of all the exercises at the Bootcamp.
Senior Licensed ZapThink Architect
Want additional credentials that come from helping to grow the EA community? Then become a Senior-level LZA. To become a Senior-level LZA, you must first get a regular LZA credential, and then complete the following tasks:
To get a Senior-Level LZA Credential, attendees will need to do the following:
- Submit all exercises completed in class to the online LZA Forums
- Contribute at least one blog post to the LZA site
- Contribute at least 2 original architectural artifacts to the LZA site that can be useful to others
- Respond to or generate at least 3 new posts on the LZA Forums with constructive feedback
Once we verify the above, we will upgrade your status to Senior-level, and we'll mail a sticker to you via first-class mail (air mail if overseas)
Licensed ZapThink Architect Fellow (Trainer)
- Need to have an active Senior LZA credential; AND
- Five years of experience as an architect; AND
- Participation as an apprentice ZapThink trainer at two ZapThink LZA boot camps.
The LZA Credentialing Process
The LZA credential is an annual credential. Since SOA and enterprise architecture as a whole undergoes continuous change, our ability to back your capabilities lasts as long as the knowledge is still thought-leading. As such, we offer our LZA program on an annual basis. The process for becoming a Licensed ZapThink Architect is straigth-forward and simple if you already have some enterprise architecture skills.- Pre-Qualifications: This training is for architects, IT project managers, and those with experience with enterprise IT systems as an individual, with an enterprise end-user firm, or at a consulting practice with a consulting firm or vendor company with a consulting practice. The training is not for developers, and we will not be focusing on vendor or technology-specific training.
- The LZA Bootcamp: The credentialing process itself consists of a four-day workshop structured as a means to exchange the latest SOA practices, methodologies, and artifacts, and finishes on the last day with a one-on-one evaluation of your capabilities for credentialing. You leave the LZA bootcamp with a credential for your efforts, and with our knowledge of your expertise. LZA bootcamps are offered multiple times a year at designated training locations. Class sizes are limited to no more than fifty (50) so that we can properly credential each individual architect.
Licensed ZapThink Architect Course Agenda
LZA Boot Camp - 4-Day SOA Intensive | ||
Day 1 | ||
| Registration: 8:00 to 8:30AM | ||
Module 1: Fundamentals of SOA | ||
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| Exercise: Service Contract | ||
Module 2: SOA as Architecture | ||
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| Exercise: Service Model | ||
| Homework: Business Case | ||
| Class Ends at 5PM | ||
Day Two | ||
| Class Begins at 8:30AM | ||
Module 3: SOA Intermediaries & Integration | ||
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Module 4: XML Infrastructure & Security | ||
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Module 5: SOA Governance & Management | ||
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| Exercise: Governance Framework | ||
| Homework: SOA Infrastructure Plan | ||
| Class Ends at 5PM | ||
Day Three | ||
| Class Begins at 8:30AM | ||
Module 6: Planning & Running the.SOA Initiative | ||
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| Exercise: SOA Roadmap | ||
Module 7: Addressing SOA.Organizational Challenges | ||
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| Exercise: SOA ROI | ||
Module 8: SOA Quality | ||
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| Homework: SOA Test Plan | ||
Day Four | ||
| Class Begins at 8:30AM | ||
Module 9: Service Composition, Business Process, & SOBAs | ||
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| Exercise: Service-Oriented Business Applications | ||
Module 10: SOA Futures | ||
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| Final Exam: SOA Jeopardy! | ||
| Class Ends at 3:00PM | ||
LZAs and the Licensed ZapThink Partner (LZP) Program
Are you interested in taking your relationship with ZapThink a step further? Are you part of a company who can leverage the benefits of ZapThink's brand, network, reach, and expertise? Then, once you become an LZA, the Licensed ZapThink Partner program might be just the right thing for your company.The LZP Program offers a number of significant benefits above and beyond LZA credential for companies who want a deeper relationship with ZapThink. This includes marketing of your offerings on the ZapThink website and ZapFlash newsletter, joint-marketing activities including partnership on local events and in-person advisory, joint-collaboration with ZapThink on SOA-related topics, a licenseable curriculum for your use in training, education, and other activities, quarterly training sessions and on-site bootcamps, partner support, and other beneifts. For more information, click here. All you need to become an LZP is just have five LZAs credentialed at your company and pay a small annual partnership fee, and you're in!
Exclusive LZA-only Events
As the LZA community grows, ZapThink will host exclusive events targeted and tailored specifically for our growing LZA community. Come to our LZA events and learn from other architects, find out emerging best practices, and hear from customers about what makes their SOA implementations tick or causes the most significant problems. More information on these events will be released in the upcoming year, and we want you there!Opportunities to Contribute to the ZapThink Community
Want to get visibility in front of the over 32,000 readers of the ZapThink ZapFlash newsletter as well as tens of thousands of others who read our syndicated research? Then, become an LZA so that you can have your works published as special research on our site and in our newsletters (subject to editorial approval, of course). This unique benefit is not extended to any other type of ZapThink customer and is another exclusive benefit of becoming an LZA.Cost and Structure
Becoming a Licensed ZapThink Architect (LZA) is not only straigthforward, but affordable. The one-time training fee is regularly priced at $2495, but significant discounts apply for early registration and groups. You can then renew your credential annually in a virtual, online session that lasts less than a day and costs as little as $795. Your only additional cost is travel, if need be, to come to one of our sessions. To book your space at an upcoming event, just click on one of the current bootcamp sessions below and we'll work to get you scheduled and confirmed right away.LZA Boot Camp and Credentials Terms and Conditions
Attendance at an LZA Boot camp is not a guarantee of receipt of any particular level of LZA credential. To receive an LZA credential, you must meet the conditions for granting as defined above for each LZA credential level. If you attend an LZA boot camp and are unable to qualify for an LZA credential, you will be given the opportunity to attend another LZA boot camp within 12 months for no additional cost. LZA credentials are only valid for a period of 12 months from granting of the credential.Register for an Upcoming LZA Bootcamp
ZapThink is looking at running many LZA credentialing bootcamps in 2007. The below list is our current list, but is subject to change both in time and location as we work to get LZAs scheduled. Please note that class sizes are limited to no more than 50 people, so if they are sold out, you will have to wait for the next opportunity, or joint a bootcamp that is open in another location.| Location | Date | Register Now |
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| Singapore | August 11-14, 2009 | Register Now |
| Metro Washington, DC area | September 14-17, 2009 | Register Now |
| Frankfurt, Germany | October 6-9, 2009 | Register Now |
| London, UK | October 13-16, 2009 | Register Now |
| Boston, MA | October 26-29, 2009 | Register Now |
| Dubai, UAE | November 2-5, 2009 | Register Now |
Click here to Register for an LZA Boot Camp! Join the growing multitudes of enterprise architects with real SOA credentials!
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