R Systems' VISION/2000

VISION/2000

R Systems' Rapid Response Approach To Solving The Year 2000 Problem

1. R SYSTEMS' MISSION
Our mission is to provide our clients with a competitive advantage in information technology.

2. CORPORATE PROFILE
Today's extraordinary advances in information technologies have redefined the business world as a single global economic community. This challenging climate and vigorous competition demands that visionary companies take full advantage of every opportunity to ensure their longevity and success.
R Systems, Inc. was founded in 1990 on the belief that the advantages of global resources should be more accessible and available. When the advent of revolutionary open systems technologies created an unprecedented demand for highly specialized professionals and unique software solution requirements, R Systems was ready to meet the challenge. Clients such as MasterCard Int'l, Oracle Corp., US Sprint, State of California, Unify Corp., The Good Guys, Bell Atlantic Software, Intel, U-Haul Int'l, Motorola, Sumitomo Electric, NEC, and many others have reaped the benefits of successful R Systems projects.
Now a leading provider of a wide variety of professional services such as systems integration, technical staffing and custom software development, R Systems satisfies the needs and resources of both information systems users and information product providers. R Systems is a business partner with Oracle Corp., Centura Software Corp., Solomon Software and Micro Focus Inc., in addition to being a certified Microsoft Solutions Provider. R Systems has grown rapidly on the strength of the quality of its software professionals and its success is reflected by its outstanding profitability performance: the company has doubled its income every year since it was founded. The 1995 gross was over US $6 million and it is expected to exceed US $15 million in 1996.
Based in Sacramento, California, R Systems maintains corporate offices in Japan and India. There are over 250 R Systems' consultants deployed at various client locations all over the United States as well as a staff of over 75 software engineers and developers at R Systems' offshore development center in New Delhi, India. The combined experience pool of R Systems India's professionals exceeds 100 man years, a major portion of which has been acquired working on overseas turnkey projects.

3. R SYSTEMS' CORE COMPETENCIES

3.1 R Systems' experience in off-shore development
R Systems offers clients the strategic and economic advantages of off-shore custom software development. We specialize in executing projects off-shore at our facilities in New Delhi, India, which is equipped with state-of-the-art workstations, communications controllers, modems and a variety of communications related equipment. The ratio of workstations to employees is more than 1:1. Staffed by hand-picked, highly skilled software professionals, R Systems' project site in India has successfully completed projects of various sizes and degrees of complexity. R Systems has perfected the art of remote project management, communication, quality assurance, and testing - giving its clients the advantages of virtual on-site supervision and control.
R Systems is a pioneer in the off-shore development approach and today we are proud of the fact that our deliveries have been meeting client's expectations consistently.

4. VISION/2000 (R SYSTEMS' RAPID RESPONSE APPROACH)
R Systems' VISION/2000 methodology offers a total solution to the Year 2000 conversion. R Systems brings to each project:

a proven track record implementing number of large, complicated projects
a methodology that is language and platform independent
a proven project management leadership
access to the best available technology and automated tool knowledge
rigid quality assurance procedures covering all aspects of the project to deliver the project on time and within budget
skilled human resources and the ability to staff large projects in a short period of time with the right skills at the right time
R Systems offers a phased, integrated and total solution to an organization's Year 2000 initiative and a methodology that has been carefully developed with the following prime concerns:

To let the client's Project Managers retain the control of the project, even as its being executed by us.
A gradual change of responsibilities, with R Systems taking on more and more responsibilities as its team acquires more application knowledge.
Minimum disruption to the day to day usage of the application, including the maintenance activities.
Most Year 2000 methodologies define a wide range of manual activities and interim deliverables that provide little or no relevance to the type of project and as a result waste precious time and money. Our methodology, based on years of experience, cuts to the heart of the problem allowing us to begin the actual renovation and implementation of applications sooner and with greater confidence. We call it the "Rapid Response Approach." The methodology is structured, uses the cook book approach to code changes and is designed to provide customers with a solution that has the reliability of a product without compromising on the flexibility of a service.
The professionals we bring to the project are highly skilled in the issues surrounding Year 2000 projects and reflect the no-nonsense streamlined approach detailed in our VISION/2000 conversion methodology.
The key benefits of R Systems' solution to its customers are:

Complete Solution
Unique warranty beyond Year 2000
Word class quality
Seamless project planning and execution
Greater accuracy and reliability through the use of state-of-the-art tools
Savings of up to 50% through the optimal use of offshore and onsite resources
Fixed price contract - no hidden costs

4.1 Project Execution Approach
Software conversion projects are most appropriately handled by proceeding in a series of incremental steps, carefully tracking the movement of material, and the expenditure of resources. Our methodology advocates an incremental implementation schedule. We feel that the sooner the material is back in production, the less complex the management of the converted components becomes. Maintaining different versions of source code, copybooks, JCL, sort control statements, etc., proves dangerous in any project.
Our focus is to provide Year 2000 compliant code with the minimum number of changes and within the shortest timeframe. We call this the "Rapid Response Approach." We strive to quickly stabilize the code rather than provide the most elegant solution. We focus on the issues that affect the execution of the application portfolio, the operating environment, and the support platforms. Because it is in those areas that physical change must occur for the date problem be corrected. It is our experience that the sooner the conversion of application components begins (the first conversion will provide the "proof of concept" that will validate the conversion plan and process), the sooner a tested workable plan can be dispersed and executed.
Even with tools that can re-convert changed production source code, testing must be performed, adding to the already demanding workload and increasing the project schedule. In addition, incremental implementations will allow the client to review a sample of our work prior to the end of the project. Implementing every few weeks demonstrates that the project is on schedule and greatly reduces the chances of errors, unnecessary re-work, and other unwanted surprises.

4.2 Solution Process Flow
Organizations need the best professionals and resources to manage the Year 2000 assessment and conversion process. Our VISION/2000 Rapid Response Approach is founded on R Systems' proven methodology to keep Year 2000 projects on track. Our methodology uses sophisticated artificial intelligence capabilities for speedy conversion. It enables consultants to meet deadlines and address vital Year 2000 considerations. Our four-step VISION/2000 process includes:

Impact Analysis (Getting Started)
Determining the impact of Year 2000 conversions is one of the most difficult systems challenges. Our VISION/2000 Rapid Response Approach enables consultants to rapidly diagnose the size, scope and complexity of our clients' entire suite of applications and the datasets that support their business processes. A thorough diagnosis allows us to quickly assemble the procedures and approaches you need to avert disaster. Our team helps organizations to examine all the options by conducting a business exposure analysis, setting priorities and in planning and budgeting for conversion. Working independently, we deliver unbiased recommendations for the Year 2000 tools needed to speed the process. Our in-depth cost/benefit analysis reviews:

How big is the problem?
How long will it take to fix?
What resources will be provided?
How much will it cost?

Planning & Strategy Definition
After studying the complexity metrics reports generated by Impact Analysis, our team then establishes a strategic plan for the future customized for each client. We explore varied options, including replacing applications, re-engineering to a newer platform, or converting applications. When conversion is appropriate, we establish event horizons and the conversion strategy and prioritize application changes. Our detailed project plans address issues such as program changes, file migrations, building a date dictionary comprising all affected objects in the system, data conversion, acceptance criteria and change management procedures.

Pilot Conversion Implementation
We give our clients the flexibility of engaging in one or more pilot conversion projects. The pilot projects serve as a benchmark, and allow the client's team to participate in an actual conversion effort. Our pilot conversion projects validate estimates and assumptions, establish quality controls and allow our team to use pilot project data to further refine and fine-tune the strategy for wholesale conversion of other logical sub-systems.

Conversion & Testing
Conversion is a difficult task that requires segmenting and managing large amounts of programming and testing data. Our professionals develop a timetable and detailed project plan that efficiently manage this process. We assemble a project team that controls the process and handles both conversions and redevelopment projects. Programmers and analysts execute code changes to all objects in the date dictionary and flag instances where it is not feasible to apply changes. A major part of the conversion exercise is carried out using automated tools that are customized accordingly to ensure a rapid conversion. Our consultants define boundaries for the part of the system being 'cured' and they take great care to manage interfaces to other internal and external systems.
Rigorous testing is very often a major critical success factor in most Year 2000 efforts. Our consultants have learned that the use of automated tools greatly facilitates testing of the converted applications. Equally important as testing converted applications century compliance is the 'Black Box' testing of the entire system to ensure that functional integrity of the system is maintained during the migration process. We release applications into production only after extensive testing.

4.3 Discussion on Various Change Options
The method of conversion (full date field expansion, fixed/sliding window technique or field formatting/ compression) is usually decided after the impact analysis has been done. A decision can only be arrived at with active participation from the client, keeping in view the client's business needs.
The three most commonly used methods for Century Date Compliance are:

Full Date Field Expansion (4-digit format)
This approach involves changes to both the data as well as the programs. All references and/or uses of 2-digit format are converted to 4 digits. May require bridging mechanism to perform conversion between old and new data and programs.
While this is a permanent and obvious solution, it takes the maximum amount of time, increases DASD space usage, results in some design changes, and involves a very high testing overhead.

Fixed/Sliding Windowing Technique
This approach requires changes to programs only, and not to the data. The 2-digit representation is maintained. The solution can use either a fixed window or a sliding window of 100 years.
Depending upon the nature of the application, this technique is often preferred because the date field does not have to be expanded, although a 4-digit year format can be provided for date reference. This solution can be implemented quickly and at a lower cost. Obviously, the limitations of this technique become apparent if an application requires exposures beyond a range of 100 years. There can be a potential performance impact if the quantity of date processing is very high in any application.

2-Digit Formatting/Compression Scheme
In this approach, both the data as well as the programs are changed to compress/encode 4-digit year data into the 2-digit existing space. All applications that use or reference the updated data will also need to be changed simultaneously.
Since this solution is a compromise between the above two, it has the negatives of both! It cannot exceed 255 years (if hexadecimal representation is used), bridging is not possible, programming logic may have to be altered, and performance may suffer.

5. THE R SYSTEMS ADVANTAGE
To confront and solve the Year 2000 crisis, executives need an experienced partner who offers a comprehensive solution coupled with solid project management experience. R Systems addresses this potential threat using its VISION/2000 Rapid Response Approach. Our experienced consultants understand how to maintain legacy systems, control large-scale project management efforts and address Year 2000 issues.
Working in tandem with our clients, we accurately pinpoint their real conversion needs and consider complex audit and technical concerns. Our consultants create Year 2000 estimating models that size the conversion process and use project management controls that incorporate industry-standard Quality Assurance and risk management approaches.
R Systems is not affiliated with any individual Year 2000 software vendor. After reviewing varied Year 2000 automated tools, our consultants determined that there is no single automated solution. As a result, we developed working relationships with leading Year 2000 software tool vendors. Now, our seasoned professionals can select from a broad "toolkit" of possible solutions.

6. R SYSTEMS' CORPORATE OFFICES

USA
Director, Year 2000
R Systems, Inc.
5000 Windplay Drive, Suite 5
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Tel: 800.355.5159
Fax: 916.939.9697
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.rsys.com

JAPAN
R Systems Japan
4th Floor, Yone Hachi Building
1-5-4, Tabata
Kita-Ku, Tokyo 114
Voice: 81.3.3823.1353
Fax: 81.3.3823.1354
E-Mail: [email protected]

INDIA
R Systems (India) Private Limited
212, 2nd Floor, Block IV
Ganga Shopping Complex (Software Technology Park)
Sector 29, Noida 201 303
Tel: 91.11.853.6636
91.11.853.6637
91.11.853.6638
Fax: 91.11.853.6639
Email: [email protected]

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