This book investigates the transition from traditional Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) frameworks to modern, service-oriented architectures enabled by Web services. The authors, David S. Linthicum and Mary O'Brien, leverage their expertise in systems architecture to provide a roadmap for organizations seeking to modernize their data exchange and application connectivity. By analyzing the limitations of legacy integration methods, the text establishes a logical framework for adopting scalable, interoperable Web services as the primary standard for future-proofed IT environments.

Industry professionals view this text as a practical bridge for architects transitioning from monolithic integration patterns to distributed Web services. Readers frequently note the technical clarity of the prose, which serves as a foundational reference for understanding the evolution of enterprise connectivity standards.