Aldon, a leading provider of process-driven application lifecycle management (ALM) solutions, has announced that Aberdeen Group IT analysts have published research highlighting ALM solutions as a critical component for best-in-class service oriented architecture (SOA) implementations, and names Aldon as a key ALM provider. In Aberdeen GroupÆs research brief titled, "New SOA Development Falters with Inadequate Testing and Lifecycle Tools" it is revealed that organizations must equip themselves with appropriate lifecycle tools for successful deployments and long-term viability of their SOA initiatives, or the projects are destined to fail or fall off course.

The Aberdeen research brief, published in March 2007, reveals key findings developed from a survey of more than 750 companies involved in SOA development. Aberdeen found that "65 percent of best-in-class companies are buying new composite application-related technology in the next six months" and that this group recognizes failed SOA projects are often the result of obsolescent testing tools and processes. The report states that, "So rather than keep trying to make SOA work with obsolescent technology, the best-in-class (companies) are already buying software tools specifically designed for the SOA application lifecycle." Aberdeen further indicates that for companies to achieve superior results with SOA, the organization must rethink and redefine the concept of the application software lifecycle and put a systematic focus on the costs of developing and maintaining SOA services, which can be assisted with automation and re-use.

Aldon has long recognized that outmoded software development methodologies and tools can seriously hamper an IT departmentÆs ability to respond adequately to business requirements. With considerable pressure to deliver results in a software development environment that is increasingly complex, demanding, and diverse, todayÆs IT departments are under duress. Process-driven application change management addresses the critical needs of developers and executives alike by simplifying, automating and managing every stage of the application lifecycle. Built to address complex multi-platform environments, the Aldon ALM solution gives companies a defined, repeatable, measurable and traceable process for every stage of their application development, the company says.

"We are thrilled with the Aberdeen Group recognition, which reaffirmed to us the importance of ALM as a critical component of a company's SOA development," said Daniel Magid, chief executive officer and president at Aldon. "Our goal at Aldon is to provide the business with visibility and accessibility to IT resources as well as the process management oversight required for proper execution of SOA. Successful SOA isnÆt just a technology initiative. ItÆs a business initiative backed up by technology, he said."

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