Service-oriented architectures (SOA) have become a much discussed approach to IT systems in recent years. This abstract software concept offers a basis for the distributed search, use and provision of services in the flexibilization and integration of business processes. Up to now, mainly the technical aspect of implementation has been investigated, whereas opportunities and risks have been little researched. This book focuses on general basics, modeling and design of service-oriented architectures, flexibilization of business processes as well as process controlling and monitoring in the context of SOA.