SYS5300

Managing legacy systems

D Eaves

6 points
* 2 hours per week
* Second semester
* Caulfield.

Objectives On completion of this subject, students should understand the scope of the investment in legacy systems and the problems organisations face when attempting to manage these resources effectively and efficiently. They should appreciate the different perspectives required from senior corporate management, information systems management and information systems professionals. They should understand both short- and long-term issues, advantages, and potential problems inthe maintenance of legacy systems.

Synopsis Topics to be covered include the following. Legacy systems defined. Legacy systems as valuable resources to be managed, not merely tolerated. The costs, benefits and risks of legacy systems from a senior management perspective. The need to quantify legacy systems' value and likely replacement costs. Legacy systems and system development as capital creation: accounting and managerial implications. Function point counting (FPC) as the preferred approach to legacy system capitalization, maintenance, and enhancement. Problems in the use of FPCs. The usual necessity for reverse engineering and reengineering a number of aspects of legacy systems. Determining what to reverse engineer and justifying the costs of such reengineering, using the concept of software entropy. `Hiding' legacy systems behind contemporary interfaces: likely advantages, costs and consequences. The wider implications of outsourcing legacy systems: short term savings; loss of corporate memory; changing the maintain/replace equation.

Assessment Written: 50%.
* Practical work and seminar presentations: 50%