Comsys Transformation & Integration Methodology

The Comsys Transformation & Integration Methodology (TIM) encompasses the collective disciplines and strategy required for:

	Integrating data and systems across and beyond the enterprise
	Integrating legacy systems and new, Internet-driven technologies
	Migrating systems and business rules to new architectures, languages and web-based environments
	Managing and ensuring systems quality and stability

The TIM is a transformational blueprint, based on industry-tested, repeatable processes and detailed techniques, that enables organizations to set clear redevelopment objectives, define benefits-oriented delivery and avoid trial-and-error approaches. TIM can help you better manage your current systems investments and implement a redevelopment strategy to align external and internal information systems with your business needs and objectives.

The following links provide an overview and details of the TIM. We will be adding more of the TIM detail to this site over a period of time. If you have any questions, contact Comsys directly.

Methodology Overview: The following two sections discuss how the methodology task structure breaks down and also discusses how people have used this methodology in the past.

Task Structure
Using Methodology

The basis for Comsys-TIM is a proprietary set of techniques integrated under the redevelopment framework. Over the past six years, this framework has been used to help redevelopment implementation teams define and customize in-house solutions for legacy applications. The framework utilizes a four stage process that includes Enterprise Redevelopment Planning, Inventory/Analysis, Positioning and Transformation. Validation of this approach by numerous companies and research publications led to the creation of Comsys-TIM.

Enterprise Redevelopment Planning assesses current architecture and long term plans, reviews projects in progress, determines a phased transition strategy for systems as a whole and recommends various redevelopment approaches for individual applications.

Inventory Analysis steps organizations through the application assessment and planning process.

Positioning details code improvement processes that provide short-term productivity and quality benefits while preparing systems for migration and "reuse".

Transformation applies reverse and forward engineering technology to support system redesign, re-specification and regeneration.

Together, the four Comsys-TIM stages apply the complete range of re-engineering tools and techniques to every aspect of the redevelopment process.

TIM scenarios facilitate rapid analysis and work plan development for a wide variety of IT-related initiatives. This includes applicable assessment and planning steps, code improvement steps and various architecture transformation steps based on the situation.

A list of scenario symptoms is provided within each scenario in the list below. Once symptoms are mapped to a given business area's needs, scenario requirements should be reviewed with the management team. Requirements, and the subsequent plan, should then be customized based on unique project needs.

Each TIM scenario in the list that follows contains task steps that help establish project objectives, evaluate alternative approaches, develop an assessment plan, perform the assessment, build an implementation plan and execute implementation tasks. This common structure supports creation of assessment and implementation plans.

Please note that the task steps listed in each of these scenarios are property of Comsys Information Technology Services, Inc. and can be made available by special arrangement by contacting us at Comsys Project Services. If you would like to discuss the creation of alternative scenarios, which Comsys will be adding periodically to the list below, please contact us at Comsys Project Services.

Tools / Technologies

Tools / Technologies outline how various software tools support the processes and techniques described within this methodology.

The following TIM sections provide additional background and information required to assess, migrate, transform and / or integrate legacy architectures.

The Glossary of Terms offers definitions for a wide variety of terms used within the redevelopment approach.

The Tool Glossary provides an overview of useful kinds of tools for architecture assessments, migrations and transformations.

The Metric Guide provides IT teams with a comprehensive set of metrics for assessing how and where legacy functions, data and components should be incorporated into a new architecture.

The Legacy Transition Meta-Model defines a complete logical repository model for mapping development plans to legacy systems. This model is the basis for many of the tasks required in a legacy migration, transformation and / or integration plan.

Redevelopment Paradigms discusses how to incorporate systems redevelopment and reverse engineering techniques into a development strategy.