Modernization projects are often challenged more by disruption than by technical complexity. This might seem surprising, but it is the case more often than not: the technology required to modernize an existing system and migrate it onto a new platform is rarely the real challenge, while the disruption to users and processes during and after migration frequently undermines the value of the project. This article covers the practices MonoSpear uses to ensure legacy modernization projects are safe, incremental, and business-continuous.
Mapping Dependencies Before Touching Anything
Before touching anything, dependencies are mapped out to ensure the modernization project accounts for all downstream processes and technologies. This is often a more involved process than it seems at first, as legacy systems frequently have more connections and dependencies than were originally understood, including undocumented or unsupported integrations and custom code. This phase is critical to ensuring there are no unpleasant surprises during or after the migration.
A comprehensive mapping of dependencies goes beyond simply looking at the architecture diagrams, as these are often out of date by the time the modernization project begins. Instead, this phase should be informed by looking at the actual logs and traffic from the legacy system and its integrations, reviewing the documentation and, where necessary, interviewing the owners of the other systems about their connections to the legacy system. It is also vital to validate any assumptions about the flow of data and processes, rather than relying on assumed behaviors.
Custom code should be reviewed for similar reasons. Legacy systems that have been in use for an extended period frequently have undocumented or unsupported modifications that were made to address specific, obscure scenarios. These modifications might have been made years ago by developers who no longer work at the company, leaving no documentation about why they were created or how they function. It is vital to identify these modifications during the preparation
Phased Migration Over Big-Bang Cutover
Modernization is broken into phases with parallel-run periods to allow issues to be found and resolved before committing to the new system. A big-bang cutover, where the migration from the legacy system to the new system happens once, is a high-risk proposition that puts everything on the line in a short window. Instead, a phased approach spreads the risk across the entire timeline of the migration, reduces the pressure on the team to meet deadlines, and allows time for adjustments after each phase before moving on to the next.
The phases should be defined in such a way that they are easily measurable and have meaningful, communicable outcomes. This helps keep the team focused on delivering value with every step, rather than simply checking off tasks. It also helps the stakeholders who have approved the project to see the progress being made, which is vital for long modernization projects that require ongoing support. Without such support, these projects run the risk of being cancelled prematurely due to the perception that nothing is being done, even when substantial work has been completed. Each phase should also have a parallel-run period, where both the legacy and the new system are in use at the same time to test the new system and ensure that it functions correctly.
This helps reduce the risk even further, as the actual migration only happens once the new system has been validated against the legacy one. The parallel-run period also serves as a risk-reduction measure for the cutover itself, as the legacy system is the only one handling real production traffic until the new system has demonstrated its ability to handle it.
Architecture Designed for Measurable Outcomes
The architecture is designed around outcomes, not simply processes, to ensure that the project continues to deliver demonstrable value to the stakeholders. The focus on outcomes is important in two ways: it helps keep the project from losing focus and becoming an exercise in technological modernization for its own sake, and it provides the communication fuel needed to keep stakeholders engaged. Modernization projects, especially the ones that take a long time, are at risk of becoming unmoored from their original purpose. The day-to-day work of migrating data and applications can become a distracting task, and the focus on simply getting everything moved over can overwhelm the project team, causing them to lose sight of why they were doing it in the first place. Having a set of outcomes that can be measured and communicated about helps to avoid this risk by providing a focal point for the team to return to when necessary.
Having clearly defined outcomes also helps the stakeholders, particularly executive leadership, who have approved the project but might not have the time to engage with it on a daily basis. The outcomes serve as a progress report, letting these stakeholders know that the project is delivering on its promises. This is a critical point for long modernization projects, as the continued support from leadership is often required for such projects, and the perception of momentum is frequently the difference between project continuation and cancellation
Communication With End Users
Beyond the project stakeholders, another group that needs to be engaged is the end users of the legacy system. After all, they are the ones who will be interacting with the new system on a daily basis, and their ability to adopt it will determine the success of the modernization effort. Users who have been using the legacy system for years, particularly if they have become accustomed to its quirks and inefficiencies, might be resistant to adopting a new system, especially if they feel that they have little say in the process. The most effective modernization projects MonoSpear has been a part of have engaged the end users early and often, particularly during the parallel-run period, to ensure that their concerns were heard and that they had the support they needed to adopt the new system.
The most important advice for organizations undertaking a legacy modernization project is to engage their end users and involve them in the process, particularly during the parallel-run period. This helps to ensure that they are not blindsided by any shortcomings in the new system and that they have the support they need to adopt it. It also helps to build their confidence in the new system, which can be vital if any issues arise during the migration.
The MonoSpear Approach to Legacy Modernization
MonoSpear’s phased approach to legacy modernization is designed to ensure that the migration follows a predictable, safe pattern while still delivering substantial technical and business benefits. As such, it prioritizes the mapping of dependencies and the use of parallel-run periods to reduce the risk of any disruptions to ongoing operations. These two phases are essential to any legacy modernization project, as they are the primary factors that determine whether such a project will disrupt the business or simply improve it.
FAQs
1. What is the biggest risk in legacy modernization projects?
The disruption to ongoing operations is the biggest risk in legacy modernization projects, often caused by either poor dependency management or aggressive timelines. The technical aspects of such projects are rarely the challenge, as the technology required to modernize an existing system is usually well understood.
2. What is a phased migration approach?
The phased migration approach refers to breaking the migration process into smaller, more manageable stages with parallel-run periods in between. This helps to reduce the risk of a big-bang cutover by allowing issues to be discovered and resolved before committing to the new system
3. How are modernization outcomes measured?
Modernization outcomes are measured in terms of objectives, which allows for the creation of meaningful milestones for the project. It also helps to keep the stakeholders engaged, as it provides them with a sense of progress and accomplishment.
4. Does MonoSpear guarantee zero disruption during modernization?
While MonoSpear takes great care to minimize disruption during modernization, it cannot be guaranteed, as every project has its own unique set of risks and challenges.