Calculating the application criticality and business risk from technology obsolescence

Spence, C., Michell, V. and Spence, D. (2012) Calculating the application criticality and business risk from technology obsolescence. Business Modeling and Software Design, 109. pp. 91-112. ISSN 1865-1348 doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-29788-5_6

Abstract/Summary

The problem of technology obsolescence in information intensive businesses (software and hardware no longer being supported and replaced by improved and different solutions) and a cost constrained market can severely increase costs and operational, and ultimately reputation risk. Although many businesses recognise technological obsolescence, the pervasive nature of technology often means they have little information to identify the risk and location of pending obsolescence and little money to apply to the solution. This paper presents a low cost structured method to identify obsolete software and the risk of their obsolescence where the structure of a business and its supporting IT resources can be captured, modelled, analysed and the risk to the business of technology obsolescence identified to enable remedial action using qualified obsolescence information. The technique is based on a structured modelling approach using enterprise architecture models and a heatmap algorithm to highlight high risk obsolescent elements. The method has been tested and applied in practice in three consulting studies carried out by Capgemini involving four UK police forces. However the generic technique could be applied to any industry based on plans to improve it using ontology framework methods. This paper contains details of enterprise architecture meta-models and related modelling.

Additional Information	Related URL links to an earlier version of this article
Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/37594
Identification Number/DOI	10.1007/978-3-642-29788-5_6
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > Digitalisation, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Uncontrolled Keywords	Enterprise Architecture, Application Criticality, Obsolescence, Risk, Modelling
Additional Information	Related URL links to an earlier version of this article
Publisher	Springer
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