Today’s competitive business environments are driving the need for e-business and other technological advances. Supporting these strategic initiatives looms as the next major challenge for many IT organizations. For a growing number of installations, eager to position their enterprise for the next generation of technology while extending the value of their legacy application assets, the migration of VSE environments to the z/OS operating system is an important first step.

The VSE to z/OS migration is a major undertaking in terms of cost, time and the effect on the entire organization. In determining the business justification of such an effort, IT management must ensure that its decision process is based on accurate information and realistic estimates. However, identifying the complete list of migration activities and considerations can be a daunting task for an installation inexperienced in the z/OS environment and/or the migration process.

PRINCE Software offers extensive experience and a proven track record in the assessment, planning and execution of VSE to z/OS migrations. Our staff is comprised of information technology professionals, specifically trained and experienced in the disciplines required for a successful migration.

The key to a successful migration is a clearly defined strategy. The initial steps required to formulate this strategy include determining the business reasons for the move to z/OS; identifying all the elements of the migration process; and determining the costs and efforts required to reach the ultimate target environment and to realize the anticipated benefits.

To best acquire this information, the feasibility analysis should be performed as a joint effort between PRINCE Software and key members of your IT staff. With PRINCE Software migration specialists providing project direction and migration expertise along with your staff contributing their thoughts, ideas and knowledge of your environment, the project will contain all the elements necessary for an accurate business justification.

The analysis activities are performed in an iterative manner, beginning with an overview of the entire migration process and continuing in increasing levels of detail through each specific migration element. The process is broken into individual sessions as follows:

• Project Initiation Session — A senior PRINCE Software technician meets with key members of the IT staff to present an overview of the migration process: identifying its primary objectives; presenting typical migration scenarios; and raising potential problem areas. Client personnel provide information about the existing environment and identify areas of specific concern. The project structure and organization are developed, along with a high-level task list and an overall project schedule.

• Migration Topic Sessions — PRINCE Software specialists meet with specific personnel assigned to each migration element. Initial sessions are devoted to a general discussion of each topic and identification of the information required for the feasibility analysis. Subsequent sessions are used to discuss progress on task list items, raise technical issues and alternative approaches, and assign additional tasks. PRINCE Software provides guidance, direction and objective recommendations to assure accurate data gathering and project estimation.

• Client Planning Sessions — Following each topic session, team members continue their data gathering and planning activities. Sub-groups may meet between topic sessions to discuss findings and review task status. PRINCE Software reviews key documents and provides support and direction to team members, as needed.

Data gathering and analysis sessions continue through completion of all tasks and full coverage of all migration elements. A final feasibility document is developed for presentation to senior IT management.