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Update: Resource Analyzer Challenge
Now that our free FOCUS utilization analysis program, the Resource Analyzer Challenge, has been offered to selected mainframe customers from coast to coast for several months, we can share some findings with those who would like to take advantage of the program.
Information Builders views this service as a relationship builder that provides useful information on local FOCUS usage patterns and some contact with local FOCUS users. Participants receive up to 10 free days of consulting from a systems engineer and free use of the software during the analysis program. To date, nearly 100 customers have taken us up on this opportunity. Most challenge participants thus far were surprised at their levels of FOCUS usage. A major energy company, which took the challenge as part of an internal effort to consolidate FOCUS activities from two mainframes to one machine, learned it was actually running more than 100,000 jobs a month, or about two jobs per minute 24/7.
The company brought in consultants from Information Builders to reduce its cycles through code and usage pattern reviews, and scheduled regular internal technology days to educate users and encourage them to share best practices. The customer also requested periodic reviews of new features by the local branch to facilitate better development planning. Many other participants of the free program also sought to reduce mainframe cycles and used the information generated to assist in their optimization efforts.
Data-processing managers at one Midwestern bureau who questioned their need for FOCUS at all signed up for the challenge thinking they would confirm low usage, but they were shocked to discover significant activity in departments they thought did not use FOCUS. Through the process, however, they were able to cut costs and justify keeping mainframe FOCUS and adding a copy of WebFOCUS.
Besides getting a better handle on day-to-day FOCUS operations, the Resource Analyzer Challenge identifies all of your key users and their jobs and files, and those are critical elements in facilities planning. The challenge identifies jobs that burn up resources and helps you discover whether those expenditures are reasonable or due to poor program design, poor scheduling or usage conflicts, or lack of education.
Many participants running older releases of FOCUS have been briefed on efficiency features in newer releases that could improve their operations. We develop a new feature presentation for every FOCUS release and our system engineers can always tailor a presentation when they see exactly what you are doing to demonstrate features that address your specific needs. Information Builders is pleased to offer this opportunity to assess current usage and needs and to help you evaluate steps you could take to improve the use of FOCUS in your environment.
To schedule a presentation or enroll in the Resource Analyzer Challenge, please call your local branch office or click on www.informationbuilders.com/focus-usage.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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