1.1.3 - Outline compatibility issues resulting from situations including legacy systems or business mergers.

Question 1

What is a business merger?

Answer 1

A business merger is the combination of two or more entities, especially companies, into one.

Question 2

State five possible issues that can cause incompatible systems during a business merger.

Answer 2

1) Language differences
2) Part of business operating in a different country that host using an older version of a system
3) Hardware not working in departments that workers have been delegated to
4) Inconsistent unit systems (eg imperial and metric)
5) Businesses not using same software environment

Question 3

Describe 4 system merger strategies and provide 1 issue associated with each.

Answer 3

1) Keep both information systems and develop them to have the same functionality: high maintenance cost.
2) Replace both systems with a new one: increased initial cost.
3) Combine the best information systems from both companies: employees will struggle working with an information system from another company.
4) Select one company’s information system and drop the other: policy issues.

Question 4

What is a legacy system?

Answer 4

A legacy system is an old method, technology, computer system or application that may or may not be supported, or available for purchase anymore (e.g. floppy disk, Windows XP or a Commodore 64).

Question 5

Why could some legacy systems still be in use?

Answer 5

Some legacy systems may still be in use because its data cannot be converted to newer formats or the application cannot be upgraded.

Question 6

Give 4 challenges of maintaining legacy systems.

Answer 6

1) Expensive to change since programs may be disorganised and documentation may be missing.
2) Compatibility issues such as an old programming language.
3) Difficult to recruit staff familiar with older technology.
4) Typically pre internet and need an interface program to interact with the system.