Towards an Open SOA for Learning Management

1 Motivation Looking at today's technologies that are used to build a learning environment reveals a large variety of different software systems and components depending on the learning processes that organisations aim to support. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have established as the core systems in a modern learning environment (Kuechler et al. 2009; Grohmann et al. 2007. They integrate different technologies into a common learning infrastructure. However, given the myriad of learning applications, tools and technologies, organizations struggle to manage the interdependencies between software-supported activities within a modern learning environment. Software products for activities as diverse as learning need analysis, learning design, content authoring, learning itself as well as learning assessment interdependent both conceptually and technically. In addition, the integration of learning software with HR management systems (in corporations) or campus management systems (in higher education) is critical to avoid the isolation of the learning environment within the organization. Instead, learning solutions shall interact with business solutions e.g. for personnel management. When it comes to the business value of learning interdepartmental integration is even more necessary to facilitate the alignment between business needs and learning needs. Business-driven learning needs are tightly linked to business performance, business processes , products and markets and emerge in the operational business units. Therefore , most recent initiatives promote the integration of business planning and business intelligence software with learning management systems (Leyking und Angeli 2009). Service-oriented architectures present a viable approach that enables organizations to create an integrated solution of multiple heterogeneous software applications. Instead of expecting one software solution to provide all functionality, an