Series 25 · 7 Parts· 58m

Comparisons & Alternatives: How to Decide

The honest "it depends" guides — modernize vs replace, build vs buy, in-house vs partner, GSI vs boutique, and how to evaluate a modernization vendor.

Start reading · Part 1

Contents

01 Modernization Approaches Compared: Strangler Fig vs Lift-and-Shift vs Rewrite 11 min read A decision guide to the three approaches most modernization choices reduce to — incremental replacement, lift-and-shift, and a full rewrite. What each is for, and how to tell which lane you are in.
02 Modernize vs Replace (Rip-and-Replace): How to Decide 6 min read Should you modernize the system you have or rip it out and replace it with something new? A decision guide to the honest trade-off — and the test that usually settles it.
03 Modernization vs Migration: What's the Difference? 7 min read Migration moves a system; modernization changes what it is. They overlap but are not the same — and buying one when you needed the other is a common, expensive mistake.
04 In-House vs Outsourced Modernization: How to Decide 9 min read Should your own team modernize the legacy system, or a partner? A decision guide to the real trade-off — capacity, domain knowledge, and risk — and the hybrid that usually works best.
05 Staff Augmentation vs a Modernization Partner: What's the Difference? 10 min read Hiring contractors to extend your team is not the same as engaging a partner accountable for the outcome. The difference decides who carries the modernization risk.
06 GSI vs Boutique Modernization Partner: How to Choose 7 min read Global system integrators and boutique modernization firms fail and succeed in different ways. A decision guide to scale and breadth versus focus and senior attention.
07 How to Evaluate a Modernization Vendor (and Weigh Alternatives) 8 min read A practical scorecard for comparing modernization vendors — the handful of questions that predict success, plus an honest look at where each kind of provider fits and where it doesn't.