COBOL Modernization: A Business Leader’s Guide to Unlocking Value and Driving Digital Transformation

A Guide for Business Managers, IT Directors, CIOs, and other business leaders responsible for legacy system modernization and digital transformation.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Modernization Imperative: Why Transforming COBOL Systems is Key to Digital Success

To establish the business case for modernizing COBOL systems as a strategic enabler of digital transformation, emphasizing revenue generation, customer experience, and competitive advantage.

• 1.1 Beyond the ‘COBOL Cliff’: Reframing Modernization as a Business Opportunity
  • The limitations of focusing solely on the skills gap: moving towards a proactive, value-driven approach.
  • Quantifying the potential for revenue growth, improved customer experience, and new business models through modernization.
  • Real-world examples of companies achieving significant business outcomes through COBOL modernization.
  • Understanding the competitive disadvantage of maintaining outdated legacy systems.
• 1.2 COBOL Modernization as a Catalyst for Digital Transformation
  • Connecting COBOL modernization to broader digital transformation strategies: a holistic approach to business improvement.
  • How modernization unlocks data and functionality within legacy systems to support digital initiatives.
  • The role of modernization in enabling agile development and faster time-to-market.
  • Addressing common misconceptions about COBOL’s role in a modern digital landscape.
• 1.3 Building a Business-Aligned Modernization Strategy: A Framework for Success
  • Aligning modernization efforts with overall business strategy and objectives: a roadmap for achieving strategic goals.
  • Presenting a compelling case to stakeholders and securing executive buy-in: a framework for effective communication and advocacy.
  • Understanding the cost of inaction and the long-term consequences of neglecting legacy systems: a risk-based perspective on strategic decision-making.
  • Defining clear and measurable business outcomes for modernization initiatives.

Chapter 2: Understanding Your COBOL Landscape: A Business Leader’s Guide to Legacy Systems

To provide business leaders with a foundational understanding of COBOL systems and their potential, enabling informed decision-making and effective communication with technical teams.

• 2.1 COBOL Demystified: Essential Concepts for Business Leaders
  • COBOL’s role in core business operations: a business-friendly explanation of its purpose and function.
  • Key COBOL terminology and their business equivalents: a glossary for effective communication.
  • Understanding the strengths and limitations of COBOL in the context of modern business needs.
  • Identifying the critical COBOL applications that drive your business.
• 2.2 Assessing Your Legacy Landscape: Identifying Opportunities and Challenges
  • Evaluating the business value and risk associated with each COBOL application.
  • Documenting system dependencies and interrelationships: understanding the interconnectedness of business processes.
  • Identifying areas where modernization can deliver the greatest business impact.
  • Understanding the technical debt associated with your legacy systems.
• 2.3 Communicating Effectively with Your COBOL Experts
  • Understanding the challenges faced by COBOL programmers: fostering empathy and collaboration.
  • Building effective communication channels between business and technical teams: a framework for shared understanding.
  • Recognizing the value of your COBOL experts and leveraging their knowledge.
  • Fostering a collaborative environment for modernization.

Chapter 3: Charting Your Modernization Path: Strategic Options for Business Transformation

To guide business leaders in developing a comprehensive modernization roadmap that aligns with business goals, considers various approaches, mitigates risks, and maximizes business value.

• 3.1 Exploring Modernization Options: A Business-Driven Framework
  • Rehosting (Lift and Shift): Advantages, disadvantages, and suitability for specific business needs.
  • Replatforming: Moving to a new platform with minimal code changes: a cost-effective approach to modernization.
  • Refactoring: Improving code structure and maintainability: enhancing the long-term value of legacy systems.
  • Rearchitecting: Breaking down monoliths into microservices: enabling agility and scalability for future growth.
  • Replacing: Migrating to COTS solutions or building new applications: a transformative approach to modernization.
  • Hybrid approaches: Combining different strategies for optimal results: a flexible and adaptable modernization strategy.
• 3.2 The Role of Low-Code/No-Code Platforms in COBOL Modernization
  • Leveraging low-code/no-code platforms to rapidly develop new applications and integrate with legacy systems.
  • Creating modern front-ends for legacy applications using low-code/no-code platforms.
  • Automating business processes and integrating with cloud services using low-code/no-code platforms.
  • Empowering citizen developers to contribute to modernization efforts.