Q&A: New Workload Adoption On System z Mainframe

Over the past six quarters, IBM has been very busy turning out a raft of customer case studies on new workload adoption on its System z mainframe, letting customers tell their feature/function/benefit impetus for deciding on the System z mainframe as their choice among enterprise computing alternatives for the deployment of select new software workloads. But take note — transitioning "select" new software workloads is the catch phrase here. To the credit of the System z enterprise architect and operations professional who influenced this decision, there was a common theme in the due diligence process each company went through. At first blush, every IT organization had to create a strong business case for moving new workloads at all. Then, an application stack "fit for purpose" had to tightly match the differentiated value of System z over other systems alternatives. Finally, a lower life-cycle cost argument had to be met — and often, completed — as the first order of proof point before these workloads could pass muster.