Dissertation

Dissertation

Topic

Interface life cycle management for legacy system landscape

Abstract

IT systems and their communication are an essential part in modern companies. Most of the time, not a single integrated ERP system is used, but heterogeneous system landscape. The connections between the systems in a landscape are characterized with wide diversity in techniques and principles.

Around 40% of IT budgets are spent on implementing and maintaining interfaces, according to a survey from Gartner Group. Furthermore, reducing complexity, systems integration and system development depend first on understanding the system landscape and the dependency between the systems, respectively how the systems perform at their interfaces.

The objectives of my work are:

  • to provide a repository with relevant information about the available interfaces
  • to support IT Manager in decision making regarding the implementation and reengineering of the interfaces
  • to reduce costs by deactivating the redundant interfaces, cancelation of maintenance contracts and reusing the existing interfaces
  • to support the consolidation of the system landscape in terms of interfaces

These objectives are going to be achieved by adapting the approach of Interface Life Cycle Management (ILCM). ILCM is a systematic proceeding which considers and analysis the life cycle phases of Interfaces. Understanding the interfaces, their relations and related risks will help to take better decision and implement the required changes.

ILCM consists of five steps, which are:

  • Retrieve the interfaces
  • Model and analyze the interfaces
  • Estimate risk rating
  • Decision making and implement changes
  • Evaluation

During this proceeding, characteristics of interfaces are determined and the influence which each of them has on the risk rate connected to an interface is estimated. Later on and in order to estimate risk rate, several characteristics will be considered and weighted.

(Changed: 19 Jan 2024)  | 
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