Ensuring the successful management of a software standard as part of a reengineering project

30 Aug. 2023
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Initial project situation: Development of the company’s own MigCenter software and its pain points

The project was carried out in the Data Management & Migration (DM&M) department of Deutsche Telekom IT GmbH. This department uses the MigCenter software developed in-house. This software, which was first used in 1996, provides libraries with which, among other things, the migration, transformation and analysis of data can be carried out. One component of MigCenter is the so-called MigKernel. This encapsulates the general functionalities of the software. Its main task is mass data processing. Software adapted to the respective circumstances is developed for various projects on the basis of the MigCenter. As the MigCenter has been developed for over 20 years, there is a large amount of source code that is no longer in use. It was written completely individually by the employees of the DM&M department and therefore does not follow a uniform standard. This in turn leads to increased effort when training new employees. For this reason, a software standard is to be introduced as part of this project. The Java framework Spring Batch was selected for this purpose. This is optimized for mass data processing and is therefore ideal for the MigCenter.

Objective of the project: Provision of a software library

The long-term goal is to convert the MigKernel to Spring Batch by means of software reengineering. The master’s thesis focuses on the conversion of the so-called core controller. This is the component of the kernel that performs the transformation of data. The new software should have the same functionalities as the previously used software. The focus is also on code quality. The new software must not have any dependencies on the other components of the MigCenter, as it must be able to run independently of them. The project goal is to provide a software library that is based on Spring Batch and takes these points into account. A procedure is to be developed that takes these three factors into account when introducing a standard by means of reengineering. This procedure can then be used when converting other components of the kernel. Thus, at the end of the project, a software library based on Spring Batch and a procedure for the introduction of a software standard by means of reengineering will be available.

Project development: Development of the software

The entire project was carried out over a period of approximately one year. Employees from the DM&M department were involved in the practical implementation of the development of the new software. A full-time software developer was on hand to advise the project team. At the end of the project period, the project was 95% complete. The remaining tasks were outsourced to a follow-up project.

Based on the practical implementation and a theoretical elaboration, a procedure for software reengineering for the introduction of a standard was developed for the project. The approach mainly considers three factors of the ISO 25010 standard, which defines quality characteristics for software. These three factors are functional suitability, maintainability and compatibility. They were the focus, as they largely correspond to the requirements placed on the software.

Big Picture Tobias Gruber (Source: Own illustration)

Added value for Deutsche Telekom AG: New version of a software library

On completion of the project, the project company receives a new version of an existing software library. This makes it possible to use existing project software with the old and new version. In the long term, this makes it possible to completely replace the old version and at the same time ensure that migrations and other team tasks can be carried out permanently.

The introduction of the standard offers various advantages:

  • One advantage is that the application logic is easier to understand.
  • This reduces the effort required to train new employees in the software.
  • In addition, the use of the standard will reduce maintenance costs in the future.

Furthermore, the procedure developed can be used to convert other software. Two projects can be identified: one concerns the implementation of the tasks remaining from the practical project. The other relates to the reengineering of the other components of the MigKernel in addition to the core controller. The practical project that has already been implemented plays a role here. The practical experience gained there with the procedure will be helpful for these other projects.

With SCMT to your project success!

Knowledge is a head start. And therefore the decisive factor for long-term success. The SCMT offers partner companies access to new research findings, trends and innovations. It offers you scientifically sound solutions to problems and gives you an advantage in global competition. In order to transfer knowledge directly into practice, the Steinbeis Center of Management and Technology (SCMT), the largest project house in the Steinbeis network, cooperates closely with the School of Management and Technology (SMT), a business school of Steinbeis University.

The Project Competence Study Program® (PKS) plays an important role here as a unique study system. This is because it creates a real win-win situation for everyone involved – both for the project-providing companies and for the students working on the project: The focus is always on an innovative practical project.

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