Managing the application inventory starts with establishing a portfolio approach to management. This requires an inventory of all applications running in the data center, but goes beyond a mere list to create a cross-reference portfolio organization that identifies key aspects of each application, such as:
Its main functions and any important limitations in functionality
Its licensing and maintenance costs
Any important limitations in its license, particularly any that might create legal complications when decommissioning
Who uses the application and how often
The business needs for the application
The product road map and level of vendor support
Other applications from the same vendor, particularly those closely linked, either technically or legally
Costs, benefits, and risks involved in continued use of the application
We discussed this at length in our earlier book Oracle Modernization Solutions, 2008 published by Packt. Applications can be cross-referenced...