RE: iSeries to another platform and back

Even well researched anecdotes can be dismissed as platform bias, or
exceptions to the rule.  The school district would do better to document a
full cost-justification (including personnel requirements), and to visit
references.

Surely the BP can provide reference customers (ideally another school
system) using the new solutions on the new platform.  If the BP can't
provide such references tell the lady to recommend to management that an
EXPERIENCED partner be found.  If references are provided it's an
opportunity to find out first hand if the new systems required additional
staffing for systems and/or database administration.  School districts can
be very sensitive to permanent increases in yearly expenses.

-Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: pnelson@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:pnelson@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 10:40 AM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: iSeries to another platform and back


To the list:

At our local user group meeting last night, I sat next to a lady who is 
with a school district in suburban Chicago. She is being pressured by 
people (who think they know systems) into abandoning the 400 platform. 
Their BP is also hinting at abandoning the platform. Her question is this: 
Does anyone have any horror stories (that they'd be allowed to share) of 
organizations that have gone off on another platform, and then come back 
to the 400. I told her the Microsoft story, and she thought it was 
hilarious.

Any help you can provide would be well received.


Paul Nelson