building a millennial mainframe powerhouse: 7 tips to attract and retain millennial mainframe...

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Building a Millennial Mainframe Powerhouse7 Tips to Attract and Retain the Next Generation of Mainframe Developers

David Rizzo, VP of Product Engineering, CompuwareKen Harper, Mainframe Product Leader, EnsonoNoah Al-Armanazi, Software Developer, CompuwareAndrew Meister, Mainframe Systems Programmer, EnsonoNovember 29, 2016

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David RizzoVP of

Product DevelopmentCompuware

Ken HarperMainframe

Product LeaderEnsono

Noah Al-ArmanaziSoftware Developer

Compuware

Andrew MeisterMainframe Systems

ProgrammerEnsono

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The Mainframe Workforce is Changing• Maintaining mainframe workforce has challenges• Expectations are shifting related to:

– Company– Work environment– Tools

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No One Better to Manage Your MF Infrastructure

Databaseinstances

250+

YEARSAvg. engineer’s

experience

69,000 MIPS(Million INSTRUCTIONS PER SECOND managed)

YEARSmainframe experience

600+

Softwareproducts

Disaster recovery, DB2, CICS, system programming and ITIL Certifications

20

MILLIONjobs per month3.2

• Flexibility with hybrid services • High performance with multiple

tiers of service • World-class design and

unparalleled mainframe support • Security and compliance best practices• Industry-leading SLAs • Support for ALL operating platforms

• Lower TCO• Optimization• Higher performance and availability • Economies of scale

Enabling:

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We Deliver

Softwarevendors85

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Importance of the Mainframe

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Workforce Demographics are Changing

IT workforce is changingwith more Millennials entering and veterans, like mainframers, retiring

In 2011,oldest Baby Boomersreached age of 65; Retiring at rapid pace

10,000Baby Boomers turn 65 every day

37,200 mainframepositions will emergeworldwide by 2020

Core systemsof thousands of banks, insurers and retailers are mainframes

For Fortune 100,90%+ of core systems are mainframes

Factoring in retiring mainframe talent, this could be as high as 84,000

World’s economy is supported by hundreds of billions of lines of COBOL code

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Who will maintain these critical systems?

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Top 7 Tips

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Plan Early• Develop “The” staffing plan with all mainframe stakeholders

– Build succession roadmaps and validate with all mainframe teams– Adopt three-channel approach for sourcing replacements

• College recruiting• Internal development• Internships

– Financial review

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• Target universities for recruiting– Research institutions

• Mainframe curriculum• Strong Information Technology curriculum

– Students willing to relocate to your company’s location– Participate in job fairs with Millennial staff

• Leverage social media• Have Millennials look for other Millennials• Internal rewards for recommendations

Look in the Right Places

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• Look for candidates with key characteristics:– Passion for learning– Interest in impacting many people– Curious about technology– Ability to work collaboratively

Identify Characteristics Needed for Success

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• Necessary training– General Mainframe skills –

IBM Redbooks– Tools they will use everyday– Language-specific training– Surviving in your environment

• Internships– Outline realistic expectations and

contributions– Good opportunity to show value – Efficient platform to evaluate

• Internal development– Discover good sources

within organization– Work on aligning people

with mainframe opportunities – Connect candidates

with effective mentors

Nurture Young Developers

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• Culture– Collaborative– Promotes learning– Celebrates successes

• Intuitive tooling• Processes

Cultivate a Desirable Work Environment

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• Type of work– Challenging– Rewarding– Modern – Sense of ownership– Clear cut, short-term objectives and assignments

Don’t Underestimate Their Capabilities

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• Mix teams• Actively participate in team environments• Encourage feedback• Continuously communicate and adjust• Build relationships across generations

Recognize Generational Dynamics

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Meet the Millennials

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Top Tips

1. Plan Early2. Look in the Right Places 3. Identify Characteristics Needed for Success 4. Nurture Young Developers5. Cultivate a Desirable Work Environment6. Don’t Underestimate Their Capabilities7. Recognize Generational Dynamics

Attract and Retain

MillennialsMainframers

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