Providing an Enterprise Architecture Framework Model for Laboratory Information Management Systems by Service Oriented Approach

Background and Aim: Laboratories are one of the most important scientific and research centers. Laboratory information management systems provide a platform for recording the information and collaborating between researchers. The main purpose of this study was suggesting an organizational architecture model of laboratory information management systems.  Materials and Methods: This study was a qualitative study. In this study, we extracted available documentation and information on laboratory information management systems from databases. Then, 16 faculties and staffs using the Sharif University of Technology's laboratory services were selected by snowball sampling and interviewed to determine needs.  Based on needs, enterprise architecture models were extracted from databases. 16 experts have evaluated the enterprise architecture model to select the best model suitable for laboratory services. Due to various technical and managerial aspects of laboratory management systems two models of Zachman architecture and service-oriented architecture models were combined. In the next step, experts from laboratory service systems have evaluated the proposed model, using Delphi technique in three rounds. Results: The findings were analyzed in two parts: Evaluation of the needs of the laboratory information management system and presentation of the proposed model. In the proposed model, the content of each cell of the Zachman framework is approached Service-oriented were selected and integrated according to the specifications of the laboratory management system.The model was evaluated based on five levels of organizational architecture maturity. The improvement in the maturity of organizational architecture was evident at higher levels. Conclusion: The use of enterprise architecture for laboratory management systems leads to optimal use of resources and ease of collaboration.