Service-oriented architecture (SOA) enables building software applications that utilize network services, based on standard protocols like HTTP and SOAP, facilitating business integration and interoperability. It promotes web services for connecting processes with partners, resulting in effective business process management (BPM) mashups. When addressing software provisioning, the decision to build or buy software involves cost, flexibility, reliability, and security considerations, with various development methods available, necessitating the selection of the best approach.