Autonomic Business-Driven Dynamic Adaptation of Service-Oriented Systems and the WSPolicy4MASC Support for Such Adaptation

When a need for dynamic adaptation of an information technology (IT) system arises, often several alternative approaches can be taken. Maximization of technical quality of service (QoS) metrics (e.g., throughput, availability) need not maximize business value metrics (e.g., profit, customer satisfaction). The goal of autonomic business-driven IT system management (BDIM) is to ensure that operation and adaptation of IT systems maximizes business value metrics, with minimal human intervention. The author presents how his WS-Policy4MASC language for specification of management policies for service-oriented systems supports autonomic BDIM. WS-Policy4MASC extends WS-Policy with new types of policy assertions: goal, action, probability, utility, and meta-policy assertions. Its main distinctive characteristics are description of diverse business value metrics and specification of policy conflict resolution strategies for business value maximization according to various business strategies. The author’s decision making algorithms use this additional WS-Policy4MASC information to choose the adaptation approach best from the business viewpoint. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1767-4.ch008