Systems Application Architecture (SAA), introduced in 1987,[1] is a set of standards for computer software developed by IBM.
[2] The intent was to implement SAA in IBM operating systems including MVS, OS/400 and OS/2.
SAA did not define new standards, but selected from among IBM's existing guidelines and software.
IBM also purchased some third party software from developers such as Bachman Information Systems, Index Technology, Inc., and KnowledgeWare, Inc.[3] These were intended to be implemented uniformly across all SAA compliant environments.
"[5]: p.xi Under Lou Gerstner IBM later quietly discontinued use of the "SAA" umbrella.