As Software as a Service (SaaS), Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) and the next generation Web (Web 2.0) take hold in enterprises worldwide, CIOs will have a different type of IT department to manage--one that is part of a global community, with sources well outside of the corporate firewalls. That means learning how to give as well as take information in this modern, share-centric environment while continuing to protect your company's data, networks and intellectual property. Start trying to understand the complex issues that this new reality presents. Accept the reality that many of the applications, services and processes that drive the business will exist outside of the firewall and will be exposed to anyone and everyone. That means educating IT about the benefits and challenges to the company, customers and employees. Secondly, prepare the infrastructure by switching over to SOA in a way that ensures that all data, services and processes are inventoried and analyzed. Thirdly, create a master architecture, building up for your SOA to target solutions that may exist inside or outside of the enterprise, including key SaaS players for providing processes, services, solutions, and information.

Learn more about the effects of convergence on the enterprise:
- Read the blog at InfoWorld

ALSO:
- read this on SOA
- this on the four stages of successful SOA
- this on the value of SaaS
- this on Web 2.0 as a competitive maneuver
- and this on Web 2.0 for the enterprise