Application Development > Legacy Systems

When newer firms go into cloud computing, they have a distinct advantage over established organizations. Organizations that have IT history, however, are more likely to have legacy systems to support--making their integration of cloud computing a much greater challenge.

The truth is simple: Legacy in IT is less about technology and more about complexity and architecture than anything else. So why do we continue to proliferate a legacy environment today without a proper enterprise architecture?

Who knew that a seemingly simple effort in rewarding workers would turn into its own agile exercise? An energy company assignment led this writer to another unexpected lesson in evolutionary design and the rewards of prototyping. Read on as we explore one of the core benefits of agile methods.

While these two buzzwords are unlikely bedfellows, they are inextricably linked...and SOA is a key enabler in propelling BPI initiatives within an organization.

Technical debt describes the cumulative consequences of cutting corners in software development, but it escapes the attention of many project managers as they focus on scope and schedule. That’s a mistake because it impacts both. Here are questions to help you ascertain the real state of technical affairs.

The first decade of the new millennium brought agile software development to the fore. What was learned and what does the future hold? Agile innovator and observer David A. Thomas offers his opinions.

It may surprise you, but the history of the Sydney Opera House brings up important questions that cut straight to a core principle of agile project management--to unleash creativity and innovation. The left-brain ingredients of a project are the necessary nuts and bolts, but the right-brain ingredients are the ones that release positive energy through inspiration. Like that iconic landmark, can your project have a lasting effect?

New Business Intelligence offering from Oracle features role-based intelligence to track project performance.

The first step in scaling agile is to move from partial methods to a full-fledged, disciplined delivery process. The second step is to understand eight scaling factors and determine which are applicable to the range of complexities your project teams face. Here, agile thought leader Scott Ambler presents his scaling model.

Just as you were getting comfortable with EAI, IDI comes along and turns everything on its head. Learn just how IDI is making its presence felt in the data and application integration arena.

Application service providers can bring real value to start-ups and bricks-and-mortars by providing speedier time to market, inexpensive access to best-of-breed applications, and hard-to-find technical skills. However, ASPs aren't the ideal solution for everyone. How do you know when an ASP is the right solution for you?

Few know the evolution of Application Lifecycle Management and how the Structured Revolution of the 1970s and '80s was a major turning point in software development. This article presents a retrospective on ALM and Structured Development Life Cycles--those that shaped it, the influencing principles and the related methodologies and tools the movement spawned.

Managing the scope of a project is one of the main instruments in managing the project budget. Over the years, this writer has developed a more holistic view on scope management. This article explains the thinking behind the concept and provides examples and tips to manage each of the aspects.

Data warehouse projects are, essentially, the biggie size IT project. Project structure, standards and organizational guidelines: these are all magnified when creating the foundation for a successful DW project environment. Don't fear, though, we'll walk you through the basics of a DW project and help eliminate questions and focus on building a successful project.

Service-based architectures are offering a lot to companies and their users, including the headaches of extensive modification to legacy systems and the frustrating lack of a common architecture to house them. Is the opportunity to publicly offer information to your users worth it?

Sure, his airline job offers plenty of upward mobility, but altitude isn't everything. He's paid well, appreciated by management and gets to see the world on the company dime. How can a project manager who travels hundreds of thousands of miles a year feel like he's standing still?

Introducing new applications to your existing systems without wreaking havoc is a tricky prospect. The Enterprise Application Integration process could well be Next Big Thing in systems development.

One of the biggest hurdles in understanding the prevalence and popularity of SOA is pinning down the right definition. Depending on how you look at it, 2008 could be a big year for SOA development and deployment.

How to create new applications that reuse information locked away in legacy systems.

Question: How do you create new applications that reuse information locked away in your legacy systems? Answer: Composite services!

Legacy systems pose a special challenge for your company. Here's how to deal with them.

Why would a hardware manufacturer like HP spend a reported $18 BILLION on a consultancy like PWC? It actually makes a lot of sense when you look at the big picture.

An equipment manufacturer is turning away new business. An airline is delaying flights due to maintenance issues. A homebuilder is struggling with a regulatory-driven software implementation. Here is a look at how three companies turned to Critical Chain to fix debilitating project management problems.

Getting in step with workflow means knowing the difference between workflow and process, and keeping it straight.

A new book emphasizes the integration of project management and change management to improve the chances of success for business, IT and other organizational initiatives.

PMs with Legacy systems' experience have an edge, as a strong demand for mainframe developers and project managers has risen.

Running a process improvement project with little or no knowledge of the legacy systems gives a whole new meaning to "creative thinking." Here's how one team got over this hurdle to achieve breakthrough results

Abraham Lincoln did away with slavery in the United States in 1863, so why are some project managers all but sold at auction? Here's one woman's story of a year in virtual chains and the lessons that have set her free at last.

HarperCollins needed an intuitive solution that could manage and track its Digital Technology Services work for over 100 global users. With Innotas’ on-demand IT Governance solution, the publisher was able to manage both strategic projects and sprints with the same tool.

Many organizations make the mistake of not including support work in their portfolio management process. By prioritizing non-project work in the same way you do projects, additional resources can often be freed up for those important, transforming initiatives.

With everyone going "dotcom," there is a big need to tie front- and back-end systems together. The solution is somewhere in the middleware.

Firmly established as a distinct discipline that can deliver real value and benefits to companies, both in the short-term and for the long haul, project portfolio management enters 2009 with momentum. But many challenges and changes are on the horizon. Here, a leading PPM analyst shares his thoughts and predictions.

A year ago, Service Oriented Architecture seemed like the hottest thing on the block. Time has cooled it off a bit, or maybe just put it in perspective. Here's an update on the current and potential impact of SOA--and how to spot a fake.

As organizations across industries and sectors confront historical economic pressures, what becomes of their ongoing and planned projects? Cost and risk containment are the top priorities, of course, but amid all the doom and gloom, could this be project portfolio management’s time to shine?

It’s time for Agile to get beyond the “small team in a single room with a whiteboard” and address the “full puzzle” — value creation across the enterprise. Here, Scott Ambler discusses the community’s challenges moving forward, including scaling to the enterprise, certification ethics and software development bias.

The relationship forged with strategic providers can make the difference between success and failure within the organization. Here, the value proposition they represent is often based more on their service and support levels than price. In essence, SPs become de facto stakeholders with the organization--and thus require special consideration in terms of how the relationship is cultivated and managed.

Organizations have struggled with a shortage of project management skills for years, but traditional methods to fill the gap continue to fall short, according to a new report from Forrester Research, which concludes that IT executives need a project-driven culture more than tools and training.

The next generation of Internet systems may need more than just DAD to succeed. Fortunately, MOM can help.

Despite some initial relunctance to embrace virtualization, companies are clearly coming around to see its advantages. Here are some numbers suggesting that acceptance levels for virtualization technologies have jumped dramatically.