IT Application Upgrade Checklist /
IT Application Migration Checklist

Summary............................................................5
  In Scope.........................................................6
  Out of Scope ....................................................6
  Audience.........................................................7
Initiation – Should we upgrade? - If yes, when?....................8
  Why to Upgrade ? High Level Cost / Benefit Considerations........8
  When to upgrade – immediately after availability of new version 
       or just before end of support period?......................11
Feasibility Study / Detailed Impact and Requirements Analysis.....13
  Upgrade Approach: "In-Place" Upgrade or "New Installation" ?....13
  Data Impact Analysis............................................14
    Types of Data.................................................14
    Data Quality..................................................15
    Is Data Migration required?...................................15
    Impact of Data Volume even when no Data Migration is required.16
  Assess Impact caused by Customizations / Modifications..........17
    How to Carry Forward Customizations / Modifications...........17
    External Impact from other Projects: Development Freeze 
      or parallel development of new features for both versions?..20
  Version Compatibility Analysis..................................22
    Version Compatibility – Application Software Stack............22
    Version Compatibility – Interfacing Applications and 
                            Interfacing Infrastructure Software...23
  Identify and assess Changes between old 
                                  and new Application Version.....24
  Other Areas of potential Impact.................................26
Scope of this Upgrade Project.....................................29
Requirements......................................................31
  Upgrade Requirements............................................31
  Additional Requirements to be implemented.......................31
  Testing Requirements............................................32
Resources.........................................................33
  Technical Resources.............................................33
  Human Resources - Roles and Responsibilities....................34
Implementation (out of scope)
Documentation Update..............................................37
Preparing and Executing the Production Cut-Over...................38
  Outage Planning: Out of Scope - Use Document
          "Checklist and Template for Outage Planning"............38
  Define and procure additional "Post-Upgrade" Support............38
  Repeated Rehearsal Runs on full volume..........................38
Decommissioning of old version (out of scope)
        - use "Checklist for Application Retirement"..............39
Risk Assessment...................................................40
Appendices........................................................44
  Appendix A: Glossary............................................44
  Appendix B: References..........................................44