Getting Started With SOA: 10 Tips for Better Results With Your Mainframe Integration Vendor

by Doc Mills
March 1, 2006

If COBOL and Rexx source code generators are used, remember there’s a critical deployment step in the process to compile and link the code to the appropriate mainframe libraries. During the design time process, are you prepared to research COBOL code and dumps if things go wrong? There are other deployment issues that may require the help of CICS systems programmers if applying the generated code into a CICS environment. In these instances, CICS Resource Definition Online (RDO) must be maintained to fully install the new services or change existing ones. 

If development will primarily be from distributed personnel, look for easy, intuitive, integrated development environments. If the developers are mainframe-oriented, be sure the IDE is sufficiently user friendly or that there are other mainframe-specific interfaces based upon CICS or other teleprocessing monitors.

6. See a software demonstration or use it yourself: 

Ask for a product demonstration, or better yet, ask for a live, on-site demonstration. Many vendors demonstrate the power of their product by producing a well-scripted, error-free, packaged demo. This may be misleading, since it’s scripted specifically to avoid everyday exceptions. 

A more factual, realistic test would be to simply record one of your own more typical applications. Be thorough, as this will prove whether you’re comfortable with the IDE and whether any hidden deployment steps are required. The best case would be to ask to build your own service instead of looking over a customer representative’s shoulder. That way, you’re sure what obstacles await your integration process. 

7 . Check reference customers:  

Everyone wants a list of reference customers but most organizations don’t bother to talk to references. This can be a mistake. As the integration market shrinks from acquisition, a software vendor’s reference customer base may become mixed with references of unrelated products they may have acquired over time. Check references closely to ensure you’re not the only company using a product a certain way, thereby risking your company’s future on unproven technologies. If requirements dictate a unique and original solution is necessary, ensure you feel comfortable with the support you can expect to receive. 

Ask if the vendor promotes periodic user groups or customer councils. Attending these could shed a lot of light, since they are notorious for frank, open discussions. 

Other than a list provided by the prospective vendor, another means of getting unbiased direct customer feedback is by attending conferences where much information can be gleaned by hanging out and listening at vendor kiosks and attending user experience lectures at the conference. Be sure to get contact information from the lecturer and also from attendees surrounding you or participating within the audience. The attendees are probably shopping just as you are and may already have valuable information.