In one of the most entertaining presentations on the topic ever, Dr. Jim Webber, SOA practice lead at ThoughtWorks, used his presentation at the QCon conference to debunk myths about the mainstream ESB concept. Jim argues that there’s an alternative to the typical, heavyweight and expensive approach to introducting SOA and and explains how a lightweight approach can yield real benefits without giving in to vendor pressure. In Jim’s opinion, the industry’s belief in the ESB as the core concept, at least in the way it’s usually used, is fundamentally mistaken. Jim claims that an ESB often ends up being just a thin veneer on an existing mess, and how an approach that doesn’t put intelligence into the network is superior.
Don’t miss the full presentation (53”), which is not only very interesting from a technical standpoint, but also quite hilarious. (Jim Webber will again be presenting at QCon London 2008, which takes place in March.)

If there’s one presentation video on SOA I suggest you should really watch in full length, it’s this one. One of the most entertaining talks I’ve ever attended.