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Exploring Data Center Migration: A Case Study
Abstract
A data center migration (DCM) refers to the physical and/or logical relocation of IT services from one physical and/or virtual location to another. The demand for and occurrences of DCMs have increased in recent years. In this case study, we examine a DCM completed by a governmental organization with approximately 80,000 users. We identify key success factors and measure the importance of specific DCM activities. Analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data to derive factors that contribute to DCM success, the following overarching conclusion emerged: Key success factors in a data center migration include proper planning, consideration of procedures to minimize end-user impact including downtime, and effective communication among team members before and during the data center migration. DCMs have practical implications for regulatory compliance and enterprise risk management efforts. Opportunities for future research include employing structure-mapping theory to test the predictive value of DCM success factors in other system implementation and migration contexts such as cloud migrations.
Data Availability: A complete copy of the questionnaire is available upon request.
... According to Cefaratti and Lin [51] they predict that the demand for data centres will keep increasing, this is due to ever huge amount of data being generated. ...
Anomaly detection plays an essential role in the maintenance of contemporary large-scale distributed computer systems. System logs are available in almost every computer system. These logs record critical information about device runtime performance and are rich in content value, making them important for anomaly detection. While system logs provide rich information for troubleshooting problems, the high usage and demand of computers has made them grow exponentially, making the traditional manual log analysis methods impractical.
In this paper, we propose LogArgus, an automated framework that applies a recurrent neural network, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), to automatically and accurately detect anomalies. LSTM models log data into natural language, and detects anomalies by computing and analyzing deviations from typical execution path. Logs are first preprocessed (parsed) into a structured format by separating parameter values and message types using JSpell. JSpell parses log entries at runtime, making it an ideal method for LogArgus. It uses the longest common subsequence (LCS) algorithm to structure unstructured logs. Logs are processed into a series of unique objects by filtering parameter values and message types.
We have conducted extensive experiments using real-world system logs to evaluate the performance of JSpell and LogArgus. JSpell outperforms state-of-the-art log parsing methods in both accuracy and efficiency. In addition, we have evaluated the accuracy of LogArgus in terms of precision and recall.
Key Words: System log, Log parsing, Anomaly detection, Distributed systems
The migration of existing applications to the Cloud requires
adapting them to a new computing paradigm. Existing works have
focused on migrating the whole application stack by means of
virtualization and deployment on the Cloud, delegating the required
adaptation effort to the level of resource management. With the
proliferation of Cloud services allowing for more flexibility and
better control over the application migration, the migration of
individual application layers, or even individual architectural
components to the Cloud, becomes possible. Towards this goal, in
this work we focus on the challenges and solutions for each layer
when migrating different parts of the application to the Cloud. We
categorize different migration types and identify the potential
impact and adaptation needs for each of these types on the
application layers based on an exhaustive survey of the State of the
Art. We also investigate various cross-cutting concerns that need to
be considered for the migration of the application, and position
them with respect to the identified migration types. Finally, we
present some of the open research issues in the field and position
our future work targeting these research questions.
The implementation of enterprise systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, alters business processes and associated workflows, and introduces new software applications that employees must use. Employees frequently find such technology-enabled organizational change to be a major challenge. Although many challenges related to such changes have been discussed in prior work, little research has focused on post-implementation job outcomes of employees affected by such change. We draw from social network theory-- specifically, advice networks--to understand a key post-implementation job outcome (i.e., job performance). We conducted a study among 87 employees, with data gathered before and after the implementation of an ERP system module in a business unit of a large organization. We found support for our hypotheses that workflow advice and software advice are associated with job performance. Further, as predicted, we found that the interactions of workflow and software get-advice, workflow and software give-advice, and software get- and give-advice were associated with job performance. This nuanced treatment of advice networks advances our understanding of post-implementation success of enterprise systems.
We present a collection of analogies that are intended to help students better
understand the foreign and often nuanced vocabulary of the genetics curriculum.
Why is it called the “wild type”? What is the difference between a locus, a gene,
and an allele? What is the functional (versus a rule-based) distinction between
dominant and recessive alleles? It is our hope that by using these analogies,
teachers at all levels of the K–16 curriculum can appeal to the common experience
and common sense of their students, to lay a solid foundation for mastery of
genetics and, thereby, to enhance understanding of evolutionary
principles.
Although studies of single cases occur throughout research fields, they are only recently beginning to appear in evaluation. These studies are difficult to generalize from, because statistical techniques do not apply. This article offers a variety of suggestions for logically analyzing the relationship between a single case and a population so that reasonable generalizations may be possible. Methodologies used by clinicians and by court justices are also examined for their relevance to evaluation methodology.
Purpose
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are software packages that allow companies to have more real time visibility and control over their operations. This paper aims to investigate and analyze common circumstances that occur within most ERP projects, and determines the areas that are key to success versus those that contribute to failure.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a content analysis of published articles reporting SAP implementations in 44 companies.
Findings
Identifies six common factors that are indicative of successful or non‐successful SAP implementations. It has been found that the lack of appropriate culture and organizational (internal) readiness as the most important factor contributing to failure of SAP implementations in 15 companies. The presence of project management approaches and appropriate culture and organizational (internal) readiness are the most important factors contributing to the success of SAP implementations in 29 organizations.
Research limitations/implications
The data analyzed is from secondary sources published in the press. Secondary reporting could increase objectivity; however, the weakness is that not all the factors might have been reported.
Originality/value
Identifies factors critical to the success of SAP implementation
SYNOPSIS: The goal of this study is to advance understanding of factors that may enhance or hinder knowledge sharing in public accounting firms and, in the end, pro- vide practical recommendations for the firms. Attention to this topic is warranted for two reasons. First, today's regulatory environment and new auditing standards have broadened and intensified pressures on CPA firms to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the audit process. Second, knowledge and expertise are unevenly distributed among the members of the audit team. Thus, knowledge sharing can help CPA firms in leveraging the skills, knowledge, and best practices of their professional staff. Against this background, CPA firms' ability to effectively deploy knowledge- sharing activities is increasingly vital to their competitive advantage, including gaining tangible benefits in terms of time and cost reductions. We draw upon prior research in accounting, organizational learning, psychology, and knowledge management to ex- amine the role of three factors—information technology, formal and informal interac- tions among auditors, and reward systems—in encouraging knowledge sharing. We develop recommendations for public accounting firms and suggest several directions for future research.
Case research has commanded respect in the information systems (IS) discipline for at least a decade. Notwithstanding the relevance and potential value of case studies, this methodological approach was once considered to be one of the least systematic. Toward the end of the 1980s, the issue of whether IS case research was rigorously conducted was first raised. Researchers from our field (e.g., Benbasat et al. 1987; Lee 1989) and from other disciplines (e.g., Eisenhardt 1989; Yin 1994) called for more rigor in case research and, through their recommendations, contributed to the advancement of the case study methodology. Considering these contributions, the present study seeks to determine the extent to which the field of IS has advanced in its operational use of case study method. Precisely, it investigates the level of methodological rigor in positivist IS case research conducted over the past decade. To fulfill this objective, we identified and coded 183 case articles from seven major IS journals. Evaluation attributes or criteria considered in the present review focus on three main areas, namely, design issues, data collection, and data analysis. While the level of methodological rigor has experienced modest progress with respect to some specific attributes, the overall assessed rigor is somewhat equivocal and there are still significant areas for improvement. One of the keys is to include better documentation particularly regarding issues related to the data collection and analysis processes.
Ten years ago, we presented the DeLone and McLean Information Sys- tems (IS) Success Model as a framework and model for measuring the complex- dependent variable in IS research. In this paper, we discuss many of the important IS success research contributions of the last decade, focusing especially on research efforts that apply, validate, challenge, and propose enhancements to our original model. Based on our evaluation of those contributions, we propose minor refinements to the model and propose an updated DeLone and McLean IS Success Model. We discuss the utility of the updated model for measuring e-commerce system success. Finally, we make a series of recommendations regarding current and future measurement of IS success.
Little research has examined the impacts of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems implementation on job satisfaction. Based on a 12-month study of 2,794 employees in a telecommunications firm, we found that ERP system implementation moderated the relationships between three job characteristics (skill variety, autonomy, and feedback) and job satisfaction. Our findings highlight the key role that ERP system implementation can have in altering well-established relationships in the context of technology-enabled organizational change situations. This work also extends research on technology diffusion by moving beyond a focus on technology-centric outcomes, such as system use, to understanding broader job outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of MIS Quarterly is the property of MIS Quarterly & The Society for Information Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
The relationship of similarity may be the most universal relationship that exists between every two objects in either the material world or the mental world. Although similarity modeling has been the focus of cognitive science for decades, many theoretical and realistic issues are still under controversy. In this paper, a new theoretical framework that conforms to the nature of similarity and incorporates the current similarity models into a universal model is presented. The new model, i.e., the systematic similarity model, which is inspired by the contrast model of similarity and structure mapping theory in cognitive psychology, is the universal similarity measurement that has many potential applications in text, image, or video retrieval. The text relevance ranking experiments undertaken in this research tentatively show the validity of the new model.
Several sections of the Sarbanes— Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) directly affect the governance of the information technology (IT) organization, including potential SOX certification by the chief information officer, Section 404 internal control assessments, “rapid and current” disclosures to the public of material changes, and authentic and immutable record retention. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires publicly traded companies to comply with the Treadway Commission's Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) that defines enterprise risk and places security as a critical variable in enterprise risk assessment. Effective IT and security governance are examined in terms of SOX compliance. Motorola IT security governance demonstrates effective structures, processes, and communications; centralized security leaders participate with Motorola's Management Board to create an enabling security organization to sustain long-term change.
Diffraction and interference are phenomena that demonstrate the wave nature of light and of particles. Experiments relating to the diffraction/interference of light can easily be carried out in an educational lab, but it may be impossible to perform experiments involving electrons because of the lack of specialized equipment needed for such experiments. It would, however, be possible for students to analyze data from scientific experiments by analogy to experiments they themselves had performed. Based on this rationale, this paper describes two pairs of experiments that may be of interest to teachers aiming to teach the wave nature of light and of particles to upper secondary school (or to college) students. Specifically, students are asked to (i) carry out a double-slit experiment by using monochromatic light, thus repeating in a way the historical experiment of Young,¹ and then analyze real data from Jönsson's²⁻³ scientific double-slit experiment with electrons, and (ii) perform an experiment involving diffraction of monochromatic light using a compact disc (CD) as a reflection grating, and then by analogy analyze data from the experiment of Davisson and Germer.⁴ The proposed real experiments are not original, and different versions of them have been wi dely described in the literature.5,6 The educational value of the present work lies in the use of the analogy between experiments carried out in the school lab and experiments performed in the scientific lab.
The potential benefits of and business imperatives for continuous assurance (CA) are now widely acknowledged. However, uncertainty remains about how CA may be effectively implemented at a theoretical and practical level. The aim of this paper is to report on the first stage of a long-term comparative case study research project examining the adoption and implementation of CA in Australian organizations. The research supports three goals: (1) to inform strategies for creating CA capability, (2) to increase success of CA initiatives, and (3) to advance theory. Key findings emerging from this exploratory case study research in six organizations include the multifaceted and messy nature of CA, implementation as an emergent and translation process, managing change and relational contexts, the CA ‘‘champion’’ and top management support, assembling new skill sets and building capabilities, and the problems and politics of information.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) created a resurgence of organizational focus on internal controls. In this study, we examine the extent to which the information technology (IT) controls suggested by the ISO 17799 security framework have been integrated into organizations' internal control environments. We collected survey data from 636 members of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) on the current usage of IT controls in their organizations. In addition to identifying the most and least commonly implemented IT controls, the survey results indicate that control implementation differences exist based on a company's status as public or private, the size of the company, and the industry in which the company operates. Training of internal auditors and/or IT personnel is also associated with significant differences in implemented controls. We discuss the implications of our research and offer suggestions for future research.
Despite the impressive progress in understanding the benefits and challenges related to enterprise system (ES) implementations-such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems-little is known about how the support structures traditionally used by organizations to help employees cope with a new ES affect employee outcomes related to the system and their jobs. Likewise, little is known about how existing peer advice ties in the business unit influence these outcomes after an ES implementation. Understanding employee outcomes is critical because of their ramifications for long-term ES success. This paper examines the impacts of four traditional support structures (namely, training, online support, help desk support, and change management support), and peer advice ties on four key employee outcomes (namely, system satisfaction, job stress, job satisfaction, and job performance). This paper also seeks to show that it is peer advice ties that best fill the complex informational needs of employees after an ES implementation by providing the right information at the right time and in the right context. The proposed model was tested in a field study conducted in one business unit of a large telecommunications company and gathered data from 120 supplier liaisons over the course of a year. Both traditional support structures and peer advice ties were found to influence the various outcomes, even after controlling for pre-implementation levels of the dependent variables. In all cases, peer advice ties was the strongest predictor, thus underscoring the importance of this critical internal resource.
Modern Cloud Data Centers exploit virtualization for efficient resource management to reduce cloud computational cost and energy budget. Virtualization empowered by virtual machine (VM) migration meets the ever increasing demands of dynamic workload by relocating VMs within Cloud Data Centers. VM migration helps successfully achieve various resource management objectives such as load balancing, power management, fault tolerance, and system maintenance. However, being resource-intensive, the VM migration process rigorously affects application performance unless attended by smart optimization methods. Furthermore, a Cloud Data Centre exploits server consolidation and DVFS methods to optimize energy consumption. This paper reviews state-of-the-art bandwidth optimization schemes, server consolidation frameworks, DVFS-enabled power optimization, and storage optimization methods over WAN links. Through a meticulous literature review of state-of-the-art live VM migration schemes, thematic taxonomies are proposed to categorize the reported literature. The critical aspects of virtual machine migration schemes are investigated through a comprehensive analysis of the existing schemes. The commonalties and differences among existing VM migration schemes are highlighted through a set of parameters derived from the literature. Finally, open research issues and trends in the VM migration domain that necessitate further consideration to develop optimal VM migration schemes are highlighted. &
We report a novel educational activity designed to teach quantum mechanical tunneling to upper-division undergraduate students in the context of nanochemistry. The activity is based on a theoretical framework for analogy and is split into three parts that are linked pedagogically through the framework. classical ball-and-ramp system, tunneling involving a familiar substance (NH3 inversion), and tunneling in core/shell quantum dots. Students first begin in the classical world-the world within which they are most familiar, explore tunneling in the NH3 inversion paradigm to gain exposure to the stark differences between classical and quantum behavior, and finally extend the concept of tunneling to the nanoscale through the examination of spectroscopic results in the literature of CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots. Additionally, the activity has been assessed via a mixed-methods approach using qualitative analysis of individual student interviews (pre- and postactivity) and recordings of students' group discourse, along with small-sample statistical techniques when appropriate. Our findings suggest that students are able to successfully incorporate the language of quantum mechanical tunneling into their scientific language, and there is evidence for analogical transfer between relevant concepts within the activity.
This paper presents research opportunities in the area of information technology (IT) within the context of the internal audit function. Given the pervasive use of IT in organizations and the new requirements of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002, internal audit functions must use appropriate technology to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. We develop IT and internal audit research questions for three governance‐related activities performed by the internal audit function‐risk assessment, control assurance, and compliance assessment of security and privacy.
Purpose
– For an organization to realize the intended benefits of an enternprise resource planning (ERP) investment, it must integrate both technical expertise and functional area knowledge, and it must have continuing support after implementation. The study aims to expand understanding of how organizations ensure the necessary support from functional experts during and after ERP installations. In particular, the study aims to address the question of the type of horizontal support mechanism chosen for this support and how managers make these choices.
Design/methodology/approach
– The study is a replicated case study based on interviews with project leaders in nine universities judged to have successful PeopleSoft ERP implementations. Thematic analysis is applied to identify the factors influencing managerial choices and organizational decisions made to assure post‐implementation ERP support.
Findings
– The findings indicate that managers of ERP implementations recognize the necessity for horizontal coordinating mechanisms both during and after implementation. The paper finds no single “best” structure in the cases, nor does it observe that the support structure decision is always based on a deliberate organizational strategy. The findings indicate that selection of post‐implementation support structure is often a negotiated outcome. Ultimately, the paper finds that the outcomes were based on three factors: the situated context of the original implementation project goals; the nature of early commitments made to functional subject matter experts and their departments; and the initial project structure used during the implementation phase.
Originality/value
– This research fills a gap in research on ERP support structures by examining how localized organizations assure the necessary support from subject matter experts, commencing with project inception and continuing through post‐implementation. The results contribute to theory by illustrating the value of a process‐based approach to understanding the factors that affect the choice of support structures. The findings contribute to practice by highlighting how early management decisions and the methods executives chose to assure commitments from key stakeholders can restrict the range of options for post‐implementation organizational structures.
This article defines and discusses one of these qualitative methods--the case research strat- egy. Suggestions are provided for researchers who wish to undertake research employing this approach. Criteria for the evaluation of case research are established and several characteristics useful for categorizing the studies are identified. A sample of papers drawn from information systems journals is reviewed. The paper concludes with examples of research areas that are particularly well- suited to investigation using the case research approach.
Case research has commanded respect in the information systems (IS) discipline for at least a decade. Notwithstanding the relevance and poten- tial value of case studies, this methodological approach was once considered to be one of the least systematic. Toward the end of the 1980s, the
If financial services institutions (FSIs) do not comply with a variety of new regulations they can face criminal charges. Despite budget pressures they must therefore continue to invest in technologies in support of their compliance mandate. This paper describes the major regulations applying to FSIs and discusses IT spending to comply with those regulations.
Discussions regarding standards for assessing qualitative research have not sufficiently addressed questions concerning the privatization of this type of analysis. In response to this dilemma, the authors of this article address some of the strategies that they have employed in working with doctoral students and offer suggestions for assessing and publicly disclosing the methodological rigor and analytical defensibility of qualitative research. Specifically, tabular strategies are introduced for use in documenting the relationship between data sources and a study’s research questions, the development of themes and categories, and the triangulation of findings. Examples from three dissertations are provided.
The literature indicates that three key social enablers—strong and committed leadership, open and honest communication, and a balanced and empowered implementation team are necessary conditions/precursors for successful enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation. In a longitudinal positivist case study, we find that, while all three enablers may contribute to ERP implementation success, only strong and committed leadership can be empirically established as a necessary condition. This presents a challenge to future ERP researchers for resolving apparent contradictions between the existing literature and the results of our analysis. One possible direction for future research would be to undertake an interpretive re-examination of the rationalisitic assumptions that underlie much of the existing literature on ERP systems implementation.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are highly complex information systems. The implementation of these systems is a difficult and high cost proposition that places tremendous demands on corporate time and resources. Many ERP implementations have been classified as failures because they did not achieve predetermined corporate goals. This article identifies success factors, software selection steps, and implementation procedures critical to a successful implementation. A case study of a largely successful ERP implementation is presented and discussed in terms of these key factors.
Context: Specification matching techniques are crucial for effective retrieval processes. Despite the prevalence for object-oriented methodologies, little attention has been given to Unified Modeling Language (UML) for matching. Objective: This paper presents a two-stage framework for matching two UML specifications and quantifying the results based on the systematic integration of their structural and behavioral similarities in order to identify the candidate component set for reuse. Method: The first stage in the framework is an evaluation of the similarities between UML class diagrams using the Structure-Mapping Engine (SME), a simulation of the analogical reasoning approach known as the structure-mapping theory. The second stage, performed on the components identified in the first stage, is based on a graph-similarity scoring algorithm in which UML class diagrams and sequence diagrams are transformed into an SME representation and a Message-Object-Order Graph (MOOG). The effectiveness of the proposed framework was evaluated using a case study. Results: The experimental results showed a reduction in potential mismatches and an overall high precision and recall. Conclusion: It is concluded that the two-stage framework is capable of performing more precise matching compared to those of other single-stage matching frameworks. Moreover, the two-stage framework could be utilized within a reuse process, bypassing the need for extra information for retrieval of the components described by UML.
Several sections of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) directly affect the governance of the information technology (IT) organization, including potential SOX certification by the chief information officer, Section 404 internal control assessments, “rapid and current” disclosures to the public of material changes, and authentic and immutable record retention. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires publicly traded companies to comply with the Treadway Commission's Committee of Sponsoring Organizations that defines enterprise risk and places security as a critical variable in enterprise risk assessment. Effective IT and security governance are examined in terms of SOX compliance. Motorola IT security governance demonstrates effective structures, processes, and communications; centralized security leaders participate with the Management Board to create an enabling security organization to sustain longterm change.
This article discusses the conduct and evaluation of interpretive research in information systems. While the conventions for evaluating information systems case studies conducted according to the natural science model of social science are now widely accepted, this is not the case for interpre- tive field studies. A set of principles for the con- duct and evaluation of interpretive field research in information systems is proposed, along with their philosophical rationale. The usefulness of the principles is illustrated by evaluating three published interpretive field studies drawn from the IS research literature. The intention of the
This longitudinal study seeks to determine the appropriate theoretical structure for how employees cope with organizational change. A model based on the appraisal theory of emotion is compared to competing theoretical structures of coping found in the literature: stimulus–response, partial mediation, and moderated. Structural equation model results showed that coping with organizational change is a completely mediated process best represented by the stimulus–response theoretical structure, whereby negative appraisal is associated with reduced control and increased escape coping, which are positively related to positive and negative emotions, respectively. Negative emotions predicted sick time used and intentions to quit, which then predicted voluntary turnover. Implications for coping theory and organizational change management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Personnel Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
No This paper presents a novel taxonomy of the critical success factors in enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation process. ERP benefits cannot be fully realised unless a strong alignment and reconciliation mechanism is established between technical and organisational imperatives based on the principles of process orientation. It is suggested in the taxonomy that measurement takes place in a balanced perspective, and for the purpose of providing useful information that can enable the decision making process and, which can help deliver the corporate objectives and therefore lead the business competitively forward. Upon this premise, the taxonomy is based on a comprehensive analysis of ERP literature combining research studies and organisational experiences. The taxonomy reflects the essential features of ERP systems, as being built based on the principles of business process management. Furthermore, it illustrates that ERP benefits are realised when a tight link is established between implementation approach and business process performance measures.
The lively classroom: Finding the humor in business associations
- Reed
SAP gets stuck in the spin cycle
- Collett
Data center industry survey: Revealing future trends so you can prepare today
- AFCOM
IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Digital Transformation
- C Anderson
- P Carter
- S Findling
- L Hand
- S Ng
- R Parker
- M Strohlein
How to adapt applications for the cloud environment: Challenges and solutions in migrating applications to the cloud
- Andrikopoulos
Organizational Change: Theory and Practice
- R J Burke
How to Successfully Migrate a Data Center
- K A Frenkel
COBIT 5: A Business Framework for the Governance and Management of Enterprise IT
- Isaca
CIO Strategy for Infrastructure Technology
- Isaca
Australian Data Centre Spending to Hit $2 Billion in 2013: Analyst
- H Barwick
The 5 Pitfalls of Data Center Consolidation and Relocation
- M E Bullock
Conceptualizing and conducting meaningful research studies in education
- Heck
Best Practices for Data Center Migration
- Ibm
Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods
- M Q Patton
Structure-mapping: A theoretical framework for analogy
- Gentner
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
- U S House Of Representatives