Kaname is a Japanese term meaning "essence." In a Japanese fan, the bottom piece that keeps the fan together is the kaname. The kaname of a business is what keeps it all together, what defines it, its essence. The kaname of a business must be identified so that all activities influencing the kaname can be identified and improved. This decomposition into individual activities, into "business services," is the first step in realizing the benefits of a service-oriented architecture (SOA).