Does Software Modernization Deliver What It Aimed for? A Post Modernization Analysis of Five Software Modernization Case Studies

Software modernization has been extensively researched,primarily focusing on observing the associated phenomena,and providing technical solutions to facilitate the modernizationprocess. Software modernization is claimed to be successfulwhen the modernization is completed using those technicalsolutions. Very limited research, if any, is reported with an aimat documenting the post-modernization impacts, i.e., whetherany of the pre-modernization business goals are in fact achievedafter modernization. In this research, we attempt to address thisrelative absence of empirical study through five retrospectivesoftware modernization case studies. We use an explanatorycase study approach to document the pre-modernization businessgoals, and to decide whether those goals have been achieved. Theintended benefits for each of the five cases we considered wereall (partially) met, and in most cases fully. Moreover, many casesexhibited a number of unintended benefits, and some reporteddetrimental effects of modernization.