Software Template Protection via Centralized Change Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large companies face high costs and resource inefficiencies due to the need for localized adjustments of IT system templates across subsidiaries and divisions, leading to data and process divergence, as well as increased development and maintenance efforts, due to differing regional and local requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a central change management service that restricts undocumented and unapproved changes to software system templates, ensuring that all updates are authorized before being committed, thereby maintaining consistency across software system instances and reducing divergence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate instances of IT systems are implemented for localized adjustments, then regional and local requirements can be met, but development and maintenance costs increase and data divergence occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into a centralized template management component and distributed instance components. Each instance can be independently configured and managed, allowing local customization while maintaining overall system coherence through the centralized template repository.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a template repository and instance management mechanism as an intermediary between the centralized template definitions and distributed system instances. This intermediary enables controlled localization by mediating which template elements can be modified at the instance level versus those that remain fixed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If templates are changed locally to meet regional requirements, then local needs are satisfied, but data and process divergence increases across the enterprise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing specific template elements to be customized at the instance level based on local requirements, while other elements remain uniform across all instances. This enables targeted localization without compromising overall system consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where instance customizations are tracked and can be reviewed against the original templates. This feedback loop ensures that local modifications do not create unacceptable divergence and enables centralized oversight of distributed customizations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If centralized templates are developed and rolled out, then consistency is maintained, but flexibility for local adjustments is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability to the template system, allowing template elements to be marked as mutable or immutable based on their nature and importance. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt its rigidity level depending on the specific template element and organizational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where standardized template elements are embedded within customizable instance configurations. The core template provides the stable foundation, while instance-specific configurations are nested within it, allowing local adjustments without breaking the overall template structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments herein are in the form of at least one of systems, methods, and software for software system template protection. With the help of software system template protection, developments, configurations, and information technology (IT) infrastructure setup can be protected and controlled in an efficient manner during the change process, while building and configuring applications and IT Infrastructure as well during the whole Application Lifecycle Management process. When changes are made in an instance of a software system deployment, prior to committing (i.e., storing) the changes, a change management service is called to determine whether such changes are allowed in view of one or more templates deployed to the instance of the software system and change restrictions associated therewith.