By Bill Moran and Rich Ptak
BMC began by listing 5 popular mainframe myths. For this paper, we ‘ve reordered and reworded the list slightly, to make them more forceful. Here they are with our comments in italics:
1) The mainframe is in maintenance mode (i.e. an old, dead platform) that no one invests in anymore. Many in the industry believe this.
2) Executives are planning to replace their mainframes. As the trade press (and some analysts) have been saying for years.
3) Organizations have already fully optimized the mainframes for maximum availability. No surprise here. They have had a lifetime to do so.
4) Only elderly, ready-to-retire Cobol types work on the mainframe today. Sun Micro at one point had a video that showed some of them.
5) If any young professionals work on the mainframe, they cannot expect much of a career.
We admit that our list exaggerates a bit, but it does so to make a valid point. Many non-mainframe people believe item number 1 item is undeniably true. This is the root of remaining 4 points. Despite efforts by IBM, BMC, Compuware, and others working for years to update, improve and mainstream the mainframe, the perception persists.
This BMC survey provides a giant step toward finally putting these myths to rest.
Before presenting our conclusions and comments, some background. Survey details and logistics are covered in the Results e-Book[1]. The survey captures input from over 1,000 executives and professionals, all working with the mainframe in enterprises down to mid-range shops. Now, for the survey results as they expose the myths.
For myth #1, a full 91% of the respondents view the mainframe as a long-term, viable platform. 75% of respondents are using Java on the mainframe indicating their companies have made the investment to hire or train people in Java usage. 42% identify application modernization as a priority. The specific reason (for modernizing) is to take advantage of new technology. These results provide convincing proof that customers are modernizing their mainframes. Also, far from being dead – mainframes are very active platforms. Myth #1 deposed.
On to myth #2. 47% of the executives interviewed state that the mainframe will grow and attract more workloads, 43 % see it stabilizing, and only 9% say their organizations will replace the platform. Myth #2 destroyed.
On to myth #3. The claim is that mainframe users have already squeezed the last drop of availability out of the platform. Mainframes have always delivered very high levels of availability, yet a full 66% say business requirements continue to force a focus on further reducing maintenance windows. Simply said, they must increase platform availability. Myth #3 shattered.
Consider myth #4. Mainframe users are mainly elderly, ready-to-retire types. This year, BMC added demographic questions to the survey. They found 53% of the respondents are under the age of 50 and only 4% over 65. 20% are female of whom the majority 55%, are between 30 and 49. (Interesting side-note, latest figures say only 11% women are in STEM positions worldwide.) Myth #4 deflated.
Finally, Myth#5. No career path for younger professionals. In actuality, a full 70% of the surveyed millennials (under age 30 with less than 10 years’ experience) are convinced that the mainframe will grow and attract new workloads industry-wide. 54% believe that the mainframe will grow within their organization, a sure indication they see career opportunities with the mainframe. Myth #5 is laid to rest.
Logically, this survey will help to kill off some of these common mainframe myths. People will believe what they want to believe. Others are vested in the maintaining the myths. Typically, neither of these will let the facts alter their beliefs. We, however, want as many as possible to be aware of these facts.
We encourage you to investigate BMC’s results for more information and insight. You will likely find the results to be interesting and, possibly, unexpected.
BMC announced these results on November first. For even more of the details and your own copy of the survey, go to BMC’s Mainframe Survey Resources web page here[2]. And, you can read more of our commentary on IT topics in our Tech Blogs[3]. We think you will find that the mainframe has a significant future!
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