PDMv3 - The Data Migration Methodology Overview

What is PDMv3?

Practical Data Migration, now in its third edition (PDMv3), is the only end to end data migration method that takes care of a project from contracting in of suppliers, through source data analysis, data mapping, data quality, extract transform and load design, migration execution and legacy decommissioning.  Whatever you need from a data migration PDMv3 has the answers

PDMv3 is modular.  Each module provide a discrete set of services in the delivery of a data migration.  This means that the PDMv3 model can be used either in a Waterfall manner or an Agile, iterative mode depending on the project specific approach.

There are 9 modules, plus 1 sub-module, in two streams of activity with a controlling Migration Strategy and Governance (MSG) super module that provides the project support functions common to any project plus the data migration specific controls that only PDMv3 supports.  Finally there is a DMZ concept to cater for the common practice of dividing activity between the work the Migration Solution Providers carry out and the work that remains with the Client.

Streams of Activity

There are two streams of activity - Technical and Business Engagement.  Most modules fall clearly into one or other stream except for the Data Quality Rules (DQR) module which straddles both.

Modules within the Technical Stream

Landscape Analysis (LA) - within this module we carry out the discovery, cataloguing and profiling of the plethora of legacy systems that make up a legacy environment.  PDMv3 is indifferent to the type of the source - from corporate system to spread sheets or even hard copy, PDMv3 can assess and manage the data into the project

Gap Analysis and Mapping (GAM) - the target system design often arrives late and in stages, even in a Waterfall environment.  This module finds the right source, defines the mappings and designs the migration including fallout, fall-back, archiving and data migration reconciliation.

Migration Design and Execution (MDE) -this is where the technology and specifications come together to build, test and execute your migration and archiving solution.

Legacy Decommissioning (LD)  - the often overlooked final step but if you don’t archive and  decommission then you aren’t performing a data migration.  This is the case even where the legacy systems may continue to exist (e.g. in a de-merger).  Day to day processing has moved from the legacy to the target on a one way trip.  Only with PDMv3 can you be certain that you will not  be left high and dry.

Testing - with a continuous testing approach alongside all the traditional testing methods, PDMv3 ensures that there are no nasty surprises in the major testing phases at the end of the project. It provides visible adherence to the highest quality standards from the very beginning to the very end.

Modules within the business Engagement Stream

Key Data Stakeholder Management (KDSM) - who are the blockers on the road to migration?  How do you bring them on board?  How do you find the hidden experts in your organisation who know  the answers to the dreaded semantic issues?  Only PDMv3 has built in data stakeholder management that will make productive the most recalcitrant of our business colleagues hence hugely de-risking the project

Business Transformation Realisation - How do you ensure that your project delivers the transformation the business requires, not just a technically competent software refresh? Only PDMv3 has a built in mechanism for managing and ensuring the full realisation of your business vision

Data Quality Rules, Release Management & De-militarised Zone

Data Quality Rules (DQR) - Control of data readiness in all its guises - data preparation, data enrichment, data discovery, semantic issues, validation, master record management - within PDMv3 is consolidated in one module.  Only PDMv3 allows the programme to clearly answer the two most important questions “What is our state of migration readiness?  When will we be at a state of readiness that will allow us to go live?”.  It is the unique, integrated features of PDMv3 that allow these questions to be answered with assurance.

Release Management (RM) - allows your project to support the complexity of the multiple demands of the delivery, testing and training teams for different data builds at different frequencies to support their work activities. PDMv3 has been scaled to support the most complex of multinational projects where different regulatory requirements, at different delivery stages within the same programme were satisfied concurrently.

De-Militarised Zone (DMZ) - it is now common practice on data migration projects for there to be a division of labour between the Data Migration Solution Providers and the client.  PDMv3 acknowledges this and recognises that it changes the nature of some of the products that are exchanged between modules.  This resolves the greatest source of contention between clients and their delivery partners.

Through its two stream, seven module approach with the addition of the DMZ and MSG activities, only PDMv3 provides end to end, top to bottom, floor to ceiling coverage of data migrations from pre-contract negotiations with suppliers to legacy decommissioning and data archiving.  

There is no other method or approach that provides this degree of coverage.