Legacy system evolution - A comparative study of modernisation and replacement initiation factors

摘要

Decisions regarding information system evolution strategy become topical as the organisation’s informationsystems age and start to approach the end of their life cycle. An interview study was conducted in order tocompare factors influencing modernisation and replacement initiation. System age, obsolete technology andhigh operation or maintenance costs were identified as triggers for both modernisation and replacementprojects. The results show that the most prevalent individual reason for modernisation initiative is businessdevelopment. Common initiation factors for replacement projects were end of vendor support and system’sinability to respond to organisation’s business needs.