Legacy Systems

A Necessary Evil

General Info

• NPOs in general have little to no tech budget.• Government is the same.• Specialized Operations

GR Water

• LMFP• CB• Boosters• Field Ops• Meters• Customer Service• Take a tour of water:

http://www.grcity.us/departments/water/CD/water-system-tap-back-1.html

Keeping the Legacy Alive

• Cost• Resistance to Change• Fear of future problems

How to Combat Problems

• Cost comparison • Integration over time, bribery• Available support

– http://antfarm/department.pl?dept=DOIT– Manufacturer resources

• Lessons Learned• BPI• Advantages of Replacement

Recommended Actions By Category

CM9% Cost

3%

Documentation14%

Personnel11%

Requirements7%System Design

16%

SE14%

System Upgrades

4%

Test8%

Vendor Product

14%

Coldbrook Control Center

The OLD system

RTUs

old newer

ScadaVision and Fix32

Sample Scada Booster Display

Training and Technology Legacy Costs

•Is training included in bid?•Who corrects mistakes?•Who checks the contractor’s work?•Voter/citizen scrutiny and transparency in government spending•The Future of SCADA

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca0hyf6tM2U

SOURCES

1. Chiasson, Michel. “Should Legacy Systems Stay or Should They Go?” National Underwriter. Life and Health. Sep 4, 2006. ABI/INFORM global pg. 50.2. Clabaugh, Gavin. Class interview/presentation 3/15/2010.Kulonda, Dennis, University of Central Florida, Mohammed Arif, Carthage College, & Captain Jennifer Luce, United States Air Force. Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, December 2003 Legacy Systems: Must History Repeat Itself? http://www.tlainc.com/articl59.htm3. Kavanagh, John. “Moving Ahead with the Best of the Old.” Computer Weekly. Sutton: Apr 12, 2005. pg 36-7.4. McIntyre, Ken. Electrician II for City of Grand Rapids Water Systems. Multiple interviews and discussions during the semester.5.Robertson, Paul. “Integrating Legacy Systems with Modern Corporate Applications.” Communications of the ACM. May 1197. Vol. 40, No. 5. pg 39.6. Schach, S.R., (1990), “Software Engineering”, Irwin, Homewood, IL.