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Reuse versus Rewrite: An Emperical Study

Based on the data collected, analyzed and presented, the following conclusions appear valid at this time:

• The time to convert the application chosen for testing using COBOL and the CICS migration solution was on average less than 3% of the time needed to rewrite the application in JAVA.
• The skill level of the programmer had little overall effect on conversion time when compared to time needed to rewrite code in JAVA. At all skill levels tested (levels 1 through 3) conversion times were less than 5% of JAVA rewrite times.
• Training times to use COBOL and the CICS migration solution for conversion    work on straightforward applications is minimal.
• With appropriate training, less skilled employees or paraprofessionals, rather than skilled technicians can do most of the work required to reuse the system using the CICS migration solution in a fraction of the time needed to rewrite.

Read the full white paper (PDF)* May 2005, last reviewed March 2008