UPDATED to cater for the latest rename of Plex from CA Plex to CA Plex PRIME
https://communities.ca.com/thread/241697286
The document
So IBM has announced another change to the name for one of my favourite computing platforms.
The new name ‘IBM Power System’ replaces the name of ‘System i’. I must admit I hadn’t really come to terms with the last rename and more often than not used the term ‘iSeries’ or ‘AS/400’. If I am being totally honest, I actually interchange all of these terms so frequently in both written and oral formats that I have to constantly remember my audience as well as remind myself.
I grew up knowing the platform as the ‘AS/400’. An extremely powerful, reliable and scalable midrange system. It wasn’t known as a server in those days, more an integrated bespoke environment and all the applications ran natively.
Now things have moved on quite a bit. The announcement for the rename is actually more than just a re-branding exercise. It is not a shallow attempt from a ‘change hungry’ marketing team to try and impress a new boss or make an impact in a global IT organisation.
The technology has moved on significantly as well.
Two hardware platforms have been consolidated which must be good for me, the consumer. The ‘System i’ and the ‘System p’ now both ship as the ‘IBM Power System’. You then have the choice of installing one or more operating systems on system partitions. So this announcement for the industry is quite significant for the midrange marketplace.
My main moan point about this change is why companies constantly consider re-branding. In my mind it doesn’t make sense. I doubt they actually consider the affects of their airhead moments after 3 zillion triple espresso’s. Especially the impact for those outside of their organisational walls.
In my opinion, this is change for changes sake and I have seen plenty of that over the years.
This is particularly true when people join an organisation and immediately set about changing it. They do it without considering why it is architected that way. Very rarely do organisations or products require a revolution rather than applied evolution.
Yet, I have witnessed the revolutionists hitting the same problems the evolutionists had already resolved. If only these revolutionists had engaged the incumbents long enough to determine what needed fixing then value could have been added somewhere along the merry path of so called, 'change glory'.
Let's take a look at the soccer scenario when clubs change their managers too frequently whilst chasing success. Those that change managers, their approach and tactics, generally over a period of time underperform those with established managers and an evolutionary mind set. Consider a Manchester United or an Arsenal approach for further proof. The exceptions are the one season wonders and rich clubs like Chelski. How many IT companies out there can afford that level of investment before seeing a return?
So I ask, did these marketing executives ponder the impact of the change?
I guess they would be aware of the cost internally. After all, this is at least the fifth change that I am aware of, so the reprinting of the user guides, help text, updating of the other applications to reference the new name (I hope this was soft-coded somehow) are generally constant. I am assuming that each group within IBM was advised of the change so that all other aspects of the business i.e. services, pre-sales, technical support, training, internal systems and accounts etc are fully conversant with the new brand.
I am also assuming that IBMs strategic and local partners are aware of the change and that they have change plans in place to ensure that their own literature, staff and services are realigned to the IBM 'espresso executives' vision.
But, of course, it doesn’t stop there!!!
What about all those companies with ‘System i’ etc in their company names? What about all those now outdated links on websites? What about all those cyber squatters and phishing sites that need to seek reinvestment capital? Those poor recruitment consultants who have another buzzword to look out for.
One thing is for sure. Google/Yahoo/Microsoft and other web search engine robots won’t know or care about the platform evolution of the ‘IBM Power System’. So I now have to remember to search under many name banners to get the correct information.
How many millions of business cards, job descriptions, organisation charts and email signatures need to be updated around the world? What about all those periodicals that target the platform? All those outdated and now devalued books on
http://www.amazon.com/ that plug the power of the 'System i', Ooops, "IBM Power System'.
This list is likely to be significant if I had time to ponder for longer. But, there is also and most importantly of course, the impact on me me me me me. Call it selfish, self-centered or paranoid, but...........
I used to say that I specialised in 'AS/400', 'iSeries', 'i5', 'System i' software development. I am going to have to append ‘IBM Power System' to this list. I won't even begin to comment on the names of the operating system whose naming journey has been equally as diverse to cogitate. Now they call the operating system 'IBM i', "Yeah Right!!!!".
Most begrudgingly, I now have to go and update my curriculum vitae remembering to be aware that not everyone who may read it in the future will be aware of the recent or previous changes.
My CV will now read something like.
Specialist in ‘CA 2E’ formerly known as ‘Allfusion 2E’, ‘Advantage 2E’, ‘Jasmine 2E’, ‘Cool:2E’, ‘Synon/2E’) which is a 4GL code generator for the ‘IBM Power system’ formerly known as ‘System i’, ‘i5’, ‘iSeries’, ‘AS/400’ and specialist in CA Plex PRIME formerly known as, CA Plex, Allfusion Plex, Advantage Plex, Cool:Plex or Obsydian.
The irony is that although the system has been re-branded and many of the tools that I use have also been re-branded. They are more often than not referred to by their
original name.
Just ask Symbol, the artist formerly known as Prince.
Thanks for reading.
Lee.
