> -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Comstock > Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 3:06 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Mainframe Fresher > <snip> > > John, > > Based on the above, and what you have shared with us about > the general IT and corporate atmosphere and your health > issues, it must be damned difficult to keep your spirits > up. I don't know, perhaps you don't.
My religious beliefs are my foundation. > > But I am curious as to why the mainframe doesn't just go > away: there must be one or more z/OS applications that the > Windows folks just can't beat. Can you describe what applications > are keeping the mainframe around? And why Windows folks can't > make it go away? We own too much historical data and processing. The cost to convert our VSAM files to MS SQL files, convert the current CICS transactions and batch programs to something runnable on Windows, and the cost to convert the batch processes (JCL) has a return of investment of about 4 to 5 years. NYC management says that is too long and has a large up-front capital outlay. It is, short term, cheaper to stay on z/OS. What is happening is our company is transitioning from a normal Health Insurance company to a supplemental insurance company (kind of like Aflac, but no duck). As we do this, our policy base on the mainframe shrinks and the new stuff is all on the distributed side (lots of apps on agent's laptops, tablets, and smartphones). So it is simply less expensive to just let the z die a gradual death. I believe they sincerely want the z dead and gone. But the assassin costs too much. I don't know about all companies. But around here "long term" seems to be "next month" <grin>. S! eriously, most things around here seem to be on a quarterly basis. I'm trying to figure out the difference between "quick and agile" and "indecisive". But the new business is off to a strong start. Not that it will help the z. -- John McKown Systems Engineer IV IT Administrative Services Group HealthMarkets(r) 9151 Boulevard 26 * N. Richland Hills * TX 76010 (817) 255-3225 phone * [email protected] * www.HealthMarkets.com Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message may contain confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. HealthMarkets(r) is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by the insurance subsidiaries of HealthMarkets, Inc. -The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company(r), Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of TennesseeSM and The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company.SM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
