LANSA Introduces "Transforming IBM i Applications" eBook Trilogy

Paul Conte has been known as a Leading Technology Guru in the AS/400 market for many years.

I just read an interesting news from Lansa that I copy below for your convenience.

Leading Technology Guru Paul Conte Imparts a Transformational Strategy for Taking Applications Beyond Modernization

Downers Grove, Ill. USA — February 7, 2011 — For the past decade, modernization has been common water cooler banter among IBM i application developers and is still recognized as a high priority project for many CIOs and IT Managers. But recently the bar has been raised considerably as modernization projects are now expected to be more forward-thinking – they need the flexibility to quickly adapt to new business requirements and be hardware and software platform agnostic. To help these CIOs and IT Managers navigate a steady course beyond modernization, LANSA is introducing a “Transforming IBM i Applications” eBook Trilogy by well-known author, speaker and consultant Paul Conte.

This complimentary 3-part eBook addresses many common issues that IT managers are currently facing including:

• transforming (refreshing & reengineering) legacy applications so that they deliver efficient, integrated capabilities, including workflow, rich media and “anywhere/any device” access to business data and functionality
• helping their IT staff maintain the skills and tools necessary to deliver the level of application innovation and agility demanded by enterprises – especially in these tough, competitive economic times
• ensuring that their applications can be rapidly deployed with the same functionality in the event of business changes such as mergers or acquisitions

The complete Trilogy is comprised of the following books:

Book 1 – Prepare for Your Journey – Know your goals & chart a course – delves into the challenges faced by IBM i organizations as they strive toward success, providing insight into the major business and technological drivers behind the movement that forces them to transform their legacy applications and development strategies.

Book 2 – Be a Savvy Traveler – Plan your trip, step-by-step – lays out the steps to create an incremental transformation plan. The ultimate transformation goal is far reaching – to implement a comprehensive enterprise application architecture encompassing all your legacy and new applications. But the goal should be reached through a series of non-disruptive steps where each step produces immediate returns and minimizes risk. This book dives deeply into a variety of ways your enterprise can reuse, recycle and reengineer legacy applications, as well as providing advice on minimizing risk and other aspects of a sound plan.

Book 3 – Embark with Confidence – Be well-equipped and follow this guide – completes the trilogy by examining specific technologies and practices that support a non-disruptive, low-risk transition process from an organization’s current application portfolio and practices to a “new generation” of applications and an architecture-based approach to development. This book concludes the series by specifying a set of “best practices” for a successful transition process.

Steve Gapp, president of LANSA Americas, said, “Paul has put together a compelling series of eBooks, which really gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to the challenges facing the majority of IBM i IT shops today. The best practices, steps and guidance offered towards transforming these shops to implement agile, innovative applications that prepare them to face both current and future needs is a must read for any IBM i software developer or manager who is looking for a strategy for success – and some peace of mind!”

You can download a complimentary copy of the eBook Trilogy at www.beyondmodernization.com

The Top Ten Success Factors in Application Modernisation on the IBM AS400

Author: Amy Grenham

Businesses considering the ongoing maintenance of their software systems are increasingly opting for the modernization route rather than replacement. Here are the top ten lessons learnt from a decade in application modernization.

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1. Evolution not revolution – Take small steps to change an existing system incrementally for a robust, cost effective end result.

However attractive a clean break may appear, it’s a high risk /high failure option. Instead, break down the existing situation into smaller steps and make your changes as part of a rational and sequenced process.

2. People are the key, not the technology.

People don’t hold documentation for each of their business processes. Many of the quirky IT workarounds and fixes needed to keep things ticking day to day, exist in the heads of the IT team. Programming is not just coding, its problem solving. That’s why people who know about the business are just as important as people who know new technology.

3. Get up to speed on integration technologies, in particular Java.

In order to move legacy applications on and benefit from the latest technology, it’s time to embrace modern programming languages.

Between Java and C#, it’s Java that comes up trumps as it is supported by multiple operating systems. Java offers much greater integration capabilities than legacy languages such as RPG or COBOL. What’s more, Java skills are readily available in the marketplace, so it makes financial sense to buy in additional resources when required.

4. Make sure that IT, Finance and the business are talking to each other.

Communication between departments is the key to the success of a project. If people a

re not talking to each other and understanding what is going on, then you have to find a way of bridging that gap for the project to succeed.

5. It pays to stay current on your software maintenance.Â

And this may mean staying in touch with your vendor. Even if you are not planning to change anything right now, when the time comes you will know what enhancements, fixes and features are available to you and you will be in the enviable position of being aware of your options.

6. Use testing tools and try out new ideas.

With the right testing tools and test automation you can start making changes without fear of any horrible repercussions. If you can’t measure a known baseline against which you can test any software change, you are taking a high risk with your existing set up. Manual testing is not going to cut it – it’s inaccurate, labour intensive and therefore expensive.

7. A system that has been around for 20 years cannot be replaced in two years.

A system that has been around for 20 years, represents 20 years of work, not just the original 2 years that it took develop. Fixes, features and refinements will have been introduced over the years until the system operating today maybe considerably different to the original.

8. There is no room in modern software for Waterfall project management techniques.

Waterfall project management techniques are characterised by long periods of non-delivery. Instead, opt for Agile practices. The result will be full involvement of the technical and business teams in a process of continual development and delivery. Not only does this make for better risk control, you can more effectively manage the project scope.

9. The ground-up IT replacement project only succeeds at the point that business processes are made to fit in with the new software.

We are yet to see a brand new system that is truly tailored to the business. The management of a project of this scope is fraught with difficulties, the main issue being the number of parties with differing requirements all competing for limited resources. The big re-write typically ends in an IT compromise, bending existing business processes to work around the new system.

10. Modern and legacy applications can happily co-exist.

Legacy and new applications, living together in perfect harmony, happily ever after.

www.desynit.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/operating-systems-articles/the-top-ten-success-factors-in-application-modernisation-on-the-ibm-as400-3865021.html

AUTHOR:

Amy Grenham is a marketing communications professional.