SOA, dependability, and measures and metrics for network enabled capability

Network Enabled Capability (NEC) is the UK Ministry of Defence's key response to the rapidly changing conflict environment in which its forces must operate. This presentation introduces one part of the EPSRC and BAE Systems jointly funded project NECTISE (NEC Through Innovative Systems Engineering) that aims to address NEC issues using service-oriented architecture (SOA) and enhanced system dependability using quality of service measures and metrics. SOA is a network-enabled solution that has the potential to combine assets (software resources, people, equipment, processes) to provide capability; that is, the ability to achieve a mission objective. This position paper introduces the problems NEC faces that can be addressed by SOA, and highlights some of those outstanding issues, such as dependability, not addressed by SOA that form research directions within the NECTISE programme.