PLANNING AND OPTIMIZING IT TRANSFORMATIONS

• US 20110166849A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gallombardo, James J., Sbordon, James V., Goyal, Praduemn K., Dube, Jean M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for planning and optimizing information technology (IT) infrastructure transformations is presented. A predictive effort estimation model for transforming an existing IT infrastructure into a transformed IT infrastructure is initially created. The introduction of a new application into the existing IT infrastructure through a use of a decision tree as a transformation path determination is emulated to create a transformation path emulation. The use of a software factory is emulated for introducing the new application into the existing IT infrastructure to create a software factory use emulation for creating the transformed IT infrastructure. The predictive effort estimation model is accurized using results from the transformation path emulation and the software factory use emulation to create an accurized transformed IT infrastructure model. A physical transformed IT infrastructure is then deployed using the accurized transformed IT infrastructure model.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of planning and optimizing information technology (IT) infrastructure transformations, the computer implemented method comprising:

creating a predictive effort estimation model for transforming an existing IT infrastructure into a transformed IT infrastructure, wherein transforming the existing IT infrastructure comprises replacing legacy applications;

emulating an introduction of a new application into the existing IT infrastructure through a use of a decision tree for transformation path determination to create a transformation path emulation;

emulating a use of a software factory for introducing the new application into the existing IT infrastructure to create a software factory use emulation for creating the transformed IT infrastructure;

accurizing the predictive effort estimation model with results from the transformation path emulation and the software factory use emulation to create an accurized transformed IT infrastructure model; and

deploying a physical transformed IT infrastructure using the accurized transformed IT infrastructure model to physically transform the existing IT infrastructure.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the predictive effort estimation model is initially created using history-based predictors for transforming the existing IT infrastructure based on application sizes in the existing IT infrastructure.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on a quantity of system interfaces in the existing IT infrastructure.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on a quantity of future commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications to be used in the existing IT infrastructure.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on an operating system (OS) gap that describes differences between existing operating systems and proposed new operating systems in the existing IT infrastructure.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on an application being part of a cluster of similar applications in the existing IT infrastructure.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transforming the existing IT infrastructure further comprises planning for future applications within the existing IT infrastructure.

8. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU), a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to create a predictive effort estimation model for transforming an existing IT infrastructure into a transformed IT infrastructure, wherein transforming the existing IT infrastructure comprises replacing legacy applications;

second program instructions to emulate an introduction of a new application into the existing IT infrastructure through a use of a decision tree for transformation path determination to create a transformation path emulation;

third program instructions to emulate a use of a software factory for introducing the new application into the existing IT infrastructure to create a software factory use emulation for creating the transformed IT infrastructure;

fourth program instructions to accurize the predictive effort estimation model with results from the transformation path emulation and the software factory use emulation to create an accurized transformed IT infrastructure model; and

fifth program instructions to deploy a physical transformed IT infrastructure using the accurized transformed IT infrastructure model to physically transform the existing IT infrastructure, and wherein

the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computer readable memory.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the predictive effort estimation model is initially created using history-based predictors for transforming the existing IT infrastructure based on application sizes in the existing IT infrastructure.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on a quantity of system interfaces in the existing IT infrastructure.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on a quantity of future commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications to be used in the existing IT infrastructure.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on an operating system (OS) gap that describes differences between existing operating systems and proposed new operating systems in the existing IT infrastructure.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on an application being part of a cluster of similar applications in the existing IT infrastructure.

14. The computer system of claim 8, wherein transforming the existing IT infrastructure further comprises planning for future applications within the existing IT infrastructure.

15. A computer program product for planning and optimizing information technology (IT) infrastructure transformations, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage media;

first program instructions to create a predictive effort estimation model for transforming an existing IT infrastructure into a transformed IT infrastructure, wherein transforming the existing IT infrastructure comprises replacing legacy applications;

second program instructions to emulate an introduction of a new application into the existing IT infrastructure through a use of a decision tree for transformation path determination to create a transformation path emulation;

third program instructions to emulate a use of a software factory for introducing the new application into the existing IT infrastructure to create a software factory use emulation for creating the transformed IT infrastructure;

fourth program instructions to accurize the predictive effort estimation model with results from the transformation path emulation and the software factory use emulation to create an accurized transformed IT infrastructure model; and

fifth program instructions to deploy a physical transformed IT infrastructure using the accurized transformed IT infrastructure model to physically transform the existing IT infrastructure, and wherein

the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the predictive effort estimation model is initially created using history-based predictors for transforming the existing IT infrastructure based on application sizes in the existing IT infrastructure.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on a quantity of system interfaces in the existing IT infrastructure.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on a quantity of future commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications to be used in the existing IT infrastructure.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the history-based predictors are further based on an operating system (OS) gap that describes differences between existing operating systems and proposed new operating systems in the existing IT infrastructure.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions are capable of being provided by a service provider to a customer on an on-demand basis.