Commercial Open Source Software: Migrations OpenOffice.org Migration Roberto Galoppini

OpenOffice.org Migration

Roberto Galoppini

Visual Agenda

Reasons to change

False problems

Communication

Outsiders matter

No big-bang, please..

Reasons to change Among top reasons to change: Technical motivations Legal motivations Economical motivations Social motivations

Among top reasons to change:

Technical motivations

Legal motivations

Economical motivations

Social motivations

“Supposed problems” Migrations involving end-users are not just a technical issue. Literature about OpenOffice.org migrations often mentions the following “problems”: Functions are “missing” (read they are somewhere) OpenOffice Data format (ODF) are not spread Layout differences There is no documentation ( see amazon ) There is no (commercial) support

Migrations involving end-users are not just a technical issue. Literature about OpenOffice.org migrations often mentions the following “problems”:

Functions are “missing” (read they are somewhere)

OpenOffice Data format (ODF) are not spread

Layout differences

There is no documentation ( see amazon )

There is no (commercial) support

Issues to be addressed Migrations are never for free: Technological impact Managing formats & interoperability (R/W/RW patterns) ‏ Documents’ Conversion Interoperability issues Psychological impact Need to learn to use a new tool ( what about office 2007 ?) Motivational issues Inertia to change Frustraction

Migrations are never for free:

Technological impact

Managing formats & interoperability (R/W/RW patterns) ‏

Documents’ Conversion

Interoperability issues

Psychological impact

Need to learn to use a new tool ( what about office 2007 ?)

Motivational issues

Inertia to change

Frustraction

Migration project GANTT Analysis Deployment Training Support and Maintenance Uninstall MS Office Model Migration Comunication

Analysis Analysis is aimed at addressing the following issues: Organizational Assessment (Identify Decision makers, Organizational Units, etc) Document walk-through (automatic, sampling, pattern r/w/rw, legal aspects) Hardware/Software survey (compatibility, needed functions, architecture review) ‏ Goals: Define a ready-to-go project Pilot plan definition Migration guide-line definition

Analysis is aimed at addressing the following issues:

Organizational Assessment (Identify Decision makers, Organizational Units, etc)

Document walk-through (automatic, sampling, pattern r/w/rw, legal aspects)

Hardware/Software survey (compatibility, needed functions, architecture review) ‏

Goals:

Define a ready-to-go project

Pilot plan definition

Migration guide-line definition

Analysis :: Organizational Assessment Goals: Identify homogenous class of users Identify organizational units responsibles Find technological leaders (“champions”) ‏ Understand interchange of data among O.U. Understand external interchange of data

Goals:

Identify homogenous class of users

Identify organizational units responsibles

Find technological leaders (“champions”) ‏

Understand interchange of data among O.U.

Understand external interchange of data

Analysis :: Documents’ walkthrough Documents’ walkthrough will help to: Evaluate issues related to documents' formats Templates evaluation and (re) definition Identify best training patterns

Documents’ walkthrough will help to:

Evaluate issues related to documents' formats

Templates evaluation and (re) definition

Identify best training patterns

Analysis :: Data collection Questionnaires will gather information to understand: Microsoft office’s mode of employ Numbers and categories of documents “Critical” documents Investigate Internal/External interoperability

Questionnaires will gather information to understand:

Microsoft office’s mode of employ

Numbers and categories of documents

“Critical” documents

Investigate Internal/External interoperability

Analysis :: Choices At the end of the analysis some choices are needed: Define migration target (expectations/budget trade-off, good-will, etc) Manage Critical issues (requirements coverage assessment: make/buy/redefine) Tools selections (Open Source if possible, of course!) Define Support required (related to dimensions, users clustering, statistics)

At the end of the analysis some choices are needed:

Define migration target (expectations/budget trade-off, good-will, etc)

Manage Critical issues (requirements coverage assessment: make/buy/redefine)

Tools selections (Open Source if possible, of course!)

Define Support required (related to dimensions, users clustering, statistics)

Communication It is mandatory, and it requires: Top Management commitment Trade Unions commitment “Champions” commitment Internal Marketing (motivational training)

It is mandatory, and it requires:

Top Management commitment

Trade Unions commitment

“Champions” commitment

Internal Marketing (motivational training)

Communication :: Internal Marketing It consists of: Portal (intranet with wikis, blogs, etc) ‏ Software Customization (personalised version of OOo) Software distribution (also outside of the company!) Stimulate “peer learning” (champions’ role is key!) Keep people informed, about processes and tools

It consists of:

Portal (intranet with wikis, blogs, etc) ‏

Software Customization (personalised version of OOo)

Software distribution (also outside of the company!)

Stimulate “peer learning” (champions’ role is key!)

Keep people informed, about processes and tools

Documents and Templates Migration It could be easier than expected: It is an organizational opportunity (templates, flows, etc)! Document management opportunity (file servers, etc) Archiving “old” documents as read-only (don’t need to migrate all of them!)

It could be easier than expected:

It is an organizational opportunity (templates, flows, etc)!

Document management opportunity (file servers, etc)

Archiving “old” documents as read-only (don’t need to migrate all of them!)

Deployment Installation and configuration. Customized installation “Critical” workstations availability (you likely need them!) Extensions’ attribution Move to new formats (burn the boats!)

Installation and configuration.

Customized installation

“Critical” workstations availability (you likely need them!)

Extensions’ attribution

Move to new formats (burn the boats!)

Deployment :: (Dis)installation The migration will take place step by step (big-bang simply doesn’t work) . At a certain date it must be effective . Only where and if necessary some desktops will stay .

The migration will take place step by step (big-bang simply doesn’t work) .

At a certain date it must be effective .

Only where and if necessary some desktops will stay .

Training Is the most visible activity. Motivational, especially for responsibles and champions Advanced for Champions and call center operators Educate everyone about interoperability issues Differentiated, from basic to very advanced Training program should consider second editions

Is the most visible activity.

Motivational, especially for responsibles and champions

Advanced for Champions and call center operators

Educate everyone about interoperability issues

Differentiated, from basic to very advanced

Training program should consider second editions

Maintenance and Support Help users with technical and not technical problems. Never let them alone.. Zero level support: intranet (documentation, how-to, faq, news, wiki, etc) ‏ Peer support and champions support First level support: call center Second level support: (phone and/or on-site) ‏ The portal plays a very important role here..

Help users with technical and not technical problems. Never let them alone..

Zero level support: intranet (documentation, how-to, faq, news, wiki, etc) ‏

Peer support and champions support

First level support: call center

Second level support: (phone and/or on-site) ‏

The portal plays a very important role here..

Conclusions A migration is a process, not a tool. Don’t underestimate Psychological impact of change Don’t leave them alone, never Motivate through speeches, help on a practical ground Training and support are key Users need answer, fast!

A migration is a process, not a tool.

Don’t underestimate Psychological impact of change

Don’t leave them alone, never

Motivate through speeches, help on a practical ground

Training and support are key

Users need answer, fast!

Anteprima a OpenOffice.org 2.0 Thank you! Roberto Galoppini http://robertogaloppini.net [email_address]