An Inventory/Analysis is typically initiated when a high priority, high visibility requirement is initiated by senior management. This may involve a need to integrate or merge multiple stand alone applications, the need to utilize a global data architecture, the desire to move an application to a new target platform or a full scale replacement. Long range strategies involve projects that, by necessity, have a deliverable horizon of a year or longer and may include Positioning activities already underway based on the interim maintenance plan.
The categories, defined in the Software Option Strategy Matrix (Form 002), driving a strategic redevelopment plan include technology migration, replacement and extensive enhancement efforts. One might argue that certain initiatives may fall under the interim plan.
This is true if those initiatives do not require data architecture redesign, cross system integration, a change in fundamental purpose, movement into specification based support, platform downsizing of core systems or related cross system upheaval.
A replacement may include a mix of reuse, purchase package or development. Occasionally, the line between these initiatives is blurred. Key factors requiring full scale redevelopment include movement to a new technical or data architecture, cross functional integration of core systems or dramatic changes in the supported business area. Categorizing an initiative is not as important as establishing a plan to meet organizational information requirements.
While Positioning improves systems near-term, Transformation is the key component of any redevelopment initiative. Transformation tasks are oriented around model-based development activities, coupled with reverse engineering methods. Comsys-TIM initiated this relationship in the Inventory/Analysis functional assessment. Under Transformation, this is extended throughout the development cycle. The plan produced in this task is driven by the scenario involved, assessment findings, the interim plan and the tasks defined in the Transformation stage.
Specific objectives for this task include:
· Build plan to achieve selected redevelopment option (or options) identified in the feasibility analysis/assessment integration task
· Produce a cost benefit analysis of the selected option (or options)
· Outline specific role of Transformation tasks in achieving the selected redevelopment alternative
· Identify Positioning tasks listed in the interim plan that also support the strategic redevelopment plan
The entrance criteria for the strategic redevelopment planning task is listed below.
· Establishment of application objectives via inventory/analysis executive planning Form 001
· Completion of all technical assessment tasks
· Completion of current architectural analyses and target mappings
· Completion of the user backlog requirements analysis identifying long-term application area requirements
· Completion of subject area/entity type, function hierarchy, function dependency and business function/entity type analysis tasks for current systems
· Completion of current to target mapping steps for each of the functional assessment tasks listed above
· Completion of the IS infrastructure analysis
· Completion of the assessment integration/feasibility analysis task
· Completion of the interim support plan task
The personnel and skill requirements necessary to meet the strategic redevelopment planning task are identified below.
· Redevelopment Expert
- Ability to review analysis results and make strategic recommendations based on long-term requirements and selected redevelopment alternative
· Application Area Manager
- Ability to provide input to and approve strategic system plans
· Project Manager
- Ability plan, manage and control the project
- Ability establish an strategic plan that can be delivered in required time frames
· Target System Functional Expert
- Knowledge of interim target functional requirements
· IS Management/Executives
- Input, review and sign-off on redevelopment alternatives and strategic plan
· User Requirements Analysis
- Input, review and sign-off on strategic plan
The system components and related inputs required to initiate and complete the strategic redevelopment planning task are listed below.
· Metrics recorded on completed assessment forms:
- 001 - Inventory/Analysis executive planning form
- 003A - environmental analysis form
- 003B - process flow analysis form (with attachments)
- 003C - data definition analysis form
- 004 - functional mapping form (current program/process/function to target function mapping)
- 005 - functional assessment form (functional conformance ratings)
- 006 - architectural assessment form
- 007 - IS infrastructure assessment form
- 008B - module reusability ratings form
- 008 - assessment integration form
· Blank copy of Transformation Workplan Form 030
· Blank copy of Client/Server Planning Form 033
· Categorized, prioritized backlog request lists from user backlog requirements analysis
· Assessment integration analysis summary for long-term requirements
· Assessment integration/feasibility analysis report summarizing strategic issues
· Discussion of how interim plan supports strategic requirements produced in the interim support plan
· The interim support plan
· Organization's development and project management methodology
· Ranking and summary of most likely option for strategic redevelopment - deliverable from assessment integration/feasibility analysis task
Technologies supporting the strategic redevelopment planning task include spreadsheet, project management and word processing tools. These tools are used to represent information as required by this task.
Spreadsheet
This tool is used to review prior metric results input into Comsys-TIM forms during prior tasks.
Project management tool
Step one requires work plan finalization using a project management tool. It is also a key tool for actually building the main deliverable from this task - the strategic plan.
Word processor
This is required to record analysis results.
The strategic redevelopment planning task is comprised of the following task steps:
