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Dr. Ronald J. Kizior Loyola University Chicago November 7, 2003

Dr. Ronald J. Kizior Loyola University Chicago November 7, 2003. “Continued Relevance of COBOL in Business and Academia”. Researchers. Don Carr Eastern Kentucky University Ron Kizior Loyola University Chicago. Comparison Study. Previous Study done in 1999

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Dr. Ronald J. Kizior Loyola University Chicago November 7, 2003

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  1. Dr. Ronald J. KiziorLoyola University ChicagoNovember 7, 2003 “Continued Relevance of COBOL in Business and Academia”

  2. Researchers • Don Carr Eastern Kentucky University • Ron Kizior Loyola University Chicago

  3. Comparison Study • Previous Study done in 1999 • Current Study done End of 2002 • Comparison is made between the two

  4. Goal of Research Try to determine to what extent will the COBOL language continue as a major programming language for development of business applications over the next 10 5 years.

  5. Research Methodology • Two groups of respondents • Business professionals and Academics • Either group may/may not be using COBOL applications or may/may not be offering COBOL courses.

  6. Solicitation Size • 4700 Business • 2000 Academics RESPONSE • 208 Business…4.2% • 68 Education…3.8%

  7. Research Methodology

  8. Business Demographics

  9. Business Demographics

  10. Business Demographics

  11. Business Demographics

  12. Academic Demographics

  13. Relevance of COBOL • 56% of IS Mgrs currently maintaining or developing COBOL code. ( 87% in 1999). • 60% over 5M lines of code • 30% over 20M + lines of code • No significant change from 1999

  14. Relevance of COBOL • 30% of programming effort for maintaining “legacy” COBOL code. 50% back in 1999. • Only 10% used for new applications. 20% in 1999. • 10% spent on mixture of new application & maintenance. 30% response back in 1999.

  15. Application Development • Languages used: • C++ • Java • Visual Basic

  16. IT Staffs

  17. Table 1. IS/IT Managers' View of Beneficial Skills for Entry-level Programmers The technical skill is beneficial Opinion Methodology/Technology YES NO not stated data in percent OO-Cobol 58.2 27.4 14.4 Integration of Cobol w/ Microsoft platform, languages and applications 61.1 25.0 13.9 Integration of Cobol w/ Java platform, languages and applications 55.8 30.8 13.4 Use of Cobol in distributed OLTP applications 44.2 39.9 15.9 Integration of CICS and IMS Cobol applications into Java and Microsoft platforms 45.7 39.4 14.9 Re-engineering COBOL applications for service-based or component-based architectures 56.7 28.4 14.9 Re-hosting Cobol applications to new hardware and software platforms 55.8 29.8 14.4 IS Mgrs Future View

  18. Table 2. IS/IT Managers' Response to Company/Organization Decision … To adopt or utilize listed Methodology/Technology Opinion Methodology/Technology YES NO not stated data in percent OO-Cobol 18.3 68.7 13.0 Integration of Cobol w/ Microsoft platform, languages and applications 30.8 56.2 13.0 Integration of Cobol w/ Java platform, languages and applications 20.2 67.3 12.5 Use of Cobol in distributed OLTP applications 16.3 69.8 13.9 Integration of CICS and IMS Cobol applications into Java and Microsoft platforms 19.2 65.3 15.5 Re-engineering Cobol applications for service-based or component-based architectures 31.7 55.3 13.0 Re-hosting Cobol applications to new hardware and software platforms 31.7 55.3 13.0 IS Mgrs Future View

  19. IS Mgrs Future View

  20. IS Mgrs Future View

  21. Academic Side • Median Annual Enrollment – In COBOL Courses 1999 - 40 Students 2002 - 30 Students • 25% of the schools enroll 80+ 10% enroll over 150 students per year

  22. Academic Side • 85% Respondents reported a desire that COBOL instruction continue to be offered as compared to 90% in 1999.

  23. Academic Side

  24. Academic Side

  25. Academic Side – Table 7

  26. Academic Side – Table 7

  27. Academic Side – Table 7

  28. Academic Side – Table 7

  29. Academic SideTable 7 - Review • More than 60 % of academics perceive a shift to make COBOL an elective. • More than 50% believe that it will be eliminated from curriculum as compared to 40% in 1999.

  30. Academic SideTable 5 - Review • Will another lang replace COBOL? • Large increase in JAVA, VB.net, C++ with a slight decrease in COBOL. • Still might suggests that CIS/IS curriculums require two languages.

  31. Overall Conclusions • Downward trend in development of traditional COBOL business applications. • “Masked” by current impact of integrated, multi-language, development environments have on re-engineering and re-hosting of legacy applications

  32. Overall Conclusions • Over-riding theme of IS managers is to seek to employ programming technologies that integrate legacy applications with new technologies without the need for major rewriting of current applications.

  33. Overall ConclusionsGIVEN: • Billions of legacy COBOL lines of codes still in existence, used and maintained, • Large investment that occurred with Y2K, • This provides a good outlook for IS graduates who know COBOL as well as OTHER skill sets in order to integrate COBOL applications with “best practices” of other programming technologies.

  34. Overall Conclusions • OO methodology will be increasingly important in future application development. • Our results indicate that OO will continue to compliment but not replace structured methodology in future business applications.

  35. Overall Conclusions • Respondent support integration of OO features of COBOL in the modification and maintenance of existing COBOL applications. • Future application development with by driven by integration and interoperability requirements

  36. Overall Conclusions • COBOL applications integration along with JAVA platform or .NET platform technologies is a major methodological issue confronting IS managers.

  37. Overall Conclusions • The utilization of mixed-language, interoperable, integrated COBOL development environments ( IDEs) are now focused on IS efficiency through application integration rather than rewriting.

  38. Overall Conclusions • Gone are the days of ‘just’ COBOL programmer. Managers’ needs today are programmers with a range of programming skill sets that will enable them to integrate legacy applications and extend them to modern business applications through IDEs.

  39. IS Managers now need to: • Encourage experienced COBOL programmers to obtain appropriate IDE skill sets through human reinvestment • Influence local colleges to ensure graduates have initial IDE knowledge and skills for an entry level requirements.

  40. You are all invited • 7th Annual Ethics & Technology Conference on June 25-26, 2004 at Loyola University Chicago. • Call for Papers information can be found at : www.ethicstechconfrence.org

  41. Thank You for your attention. Questions?

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