AIS Systems Development Modernization Project

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• AIS Systems Development Modernization Project
• Enabling business through IT
• Project Manager Kathy Plavko (kjp1_at_psu.edu)

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Our Goal

• To create a service-oriented enterprise
  architecture to effect dramatic change and
  improved efficiencies in the development and
  deployment of administrative services.

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This is not a road trip, it is a journey.

• We are planning for it knowing that
  there will be detours and construction
  delays along the way.

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Penn States Application Development

• Approximately 170 full-time application
  developers across the University.
• The majority of development is done using 5
  tools
• Natural
• ColdFusion
• Active Server Pages
• Visual Basic
• Smalltalk
• Many other tools are also used by smaller numbers
  of application developers across the University.

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Highlights of our Destination

• The preferred language for future AIS application
  development will be Java.
• The environment in which we will deploy
  administrative services will be IBM WebSphere in
  Linux on zSeries.
• Our new, agile enterprise architecture will
  support faster delivery of University business
  services.

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The Three Parts of the Journey

• Enterprise Server
• Enterprise Application Services
• Training Re-tooling Developers

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The zSeries Enterprise Server

• Optimizing our zSeries environment for Linux
  (zSeries).
• Implementing enterprise infrastructure management
  software.
• Implementing storage area network upgrades.
• (Systems, performance and storage updates over 3
  years)

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Enterprise Application Services

• Creating, testing and optimizing a WebSphere
  environment in Linux on zSeries.
• Establishing policies and procedures for the new
  application development environment.
• Designing and implementing a Java enterprise
  application framework for developers.
• Implementing a prototype application to
  demonstrate efficiencies of the environment.

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Training Re-tooling Application Developers

• Training an established Open Standards
  Development Team in AIS.
• Selecting Eclipse based (open standards)
  application development tools for University
  developers. (i.e., Rational Application
  Developer)
• Introducing new software development
  methodologies and standards.
• Providing training and equipment to enable
  University developers.

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System Development Modernization Challenges
Opportunities

• Open standards based environment will enable more
  integration among disparate systems.
• Most University development staffs are currently
  using other development languages (Natural, Cold
  Fusion, etc.) and may find it difficult to go
  through the transition.
• Processes and procedures are needed for
  management and support of the open standards
  environment.

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System Development Modernization Challenges
Opportunities

• Governance of enterprise architecture and
  application standards is needed.
• Improved University-wide collaboration can
  minimize duplicate efforts and enable more re-use
  of services.
• A newly trained developer work force makes it
  possible to engage University developers in
  multi-department teams for future enterprise
  application replacement. (Example Payroll)

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Anticipated Timeline (Year 1 of 4 year project)

• 2005
• Upgrade zSeries 800 to 890 with IFL engines
• Test WebSphere on zSeries server research J2EE
  frameworks.
• Develop blue prints for architecture and outline
  new policies.
• Create survey for University application
  developers.
• Negotiate Rational tool set trial.
• Review SAN storage strategy and requirements.
• Assess and recommend system management tool sets
  for evaluation.

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Anticipated Timeline (Year 2 of 4 year project)

• 2006
• Evaluate selected system management tool sets.
• Convene application framework design team using
  identified Eclipse based tool set.
• Evaluate the outcome of tool set trial.
• Evaluate survey results from University
  developers.
• Implement application framework.
• Create developer training road map.
• Engage training vendors.
• Begin training sequence.

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Questions about the Project?