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Investigating Systems Modernisation: Approaches, Challenges and Risks

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Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2024)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 2179))

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Abstract

Findings indicate that software system modernisation projects are often more complex and costly than initially thought, and that they risk failure as a result. Layered in business processes, workflows, historical implementation and evolution decisions, legacy systems have remained in use because they have been useful and not easily replaced. Modernizing these systems can involve partial functional migration or entire re-implementation, the extent to which is utilized requires deep upfront planning and investigation.

In this paper, we provide a multivocal literature review (MLR) of Software System Modernisation, examining its ongoing relevance amidst continuous technological advancements. Our research provides an analysis on the role of a legacy system, the need and benefits of legacy system modernisation, various strategies and approaches employed, challenges encountered throughout the modernisation process and the risks and costs that shape modernisation endeavours. This systematic investigation of the topic of modernisation can highlight the various considerations for researchers and practitioners tasked with modernisation evaluations.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported in part by SFI, Science Foundation Ireland (https://www.sfi.ie/) grant No SFI 13/RC/2094_P2 to Lero - the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software. It is also supported in part by SFI, Science Foundation Ireland (https://www.sfi.ie/) grant No SFI 12/RC/2289_P2 to Insight - the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Data Analytics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Gareth Hogan, Patricija Shalkauskaite, Mengte Zhu, Martin Derwin, Andrew McCarren & Paul M. Clarke

  2. Department of Computer Engineering, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Murat Yilmaz

  3. Insight, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin, Ireland

    Andrew McCarren

  4. Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, Limerick, Ireland

    Paul M. Clarke

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  1. Gareth Hogan
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Correspondence to Gareth Hogan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye

    Murat Yilmaz

  2. Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Paul Clarke

  3. Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France

    Andreas Riel

  4. I.S.C.N. GesmbH, Graz, Austria

    Richard Messnarz

  5. Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany

    Christian Greiner

  6. Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Peisl

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Hogan, G. et al. (2024). Investigating Systems Modernisation: Approaches, Challenges and Risks. In: Yilmaz, M., Clarke, P., Riel, A., Messnarz, R., Greiner, C., Peisl, T. (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2179. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71139-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71139-8_10

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