Method of transforming an application into an on-demand service

1. A computer implemented method of transforming an application, said method comprising:

assessing readiness for transformation, based on a plurality of desirable application attributes, wherein said assessing readiness for transformation further comprises:

choosing one of said desirable application attributes; and

determining a state of readiness for the chosen desirable application attribute;

wherein said state of readiness may take on a value of ready; almost ready; or not ready;

mapping at least some of said desirable application attributes to at least some kinds of help;

generating a proposal for transformation, based on results of said assessing and said mapping;

outputting said proposal;

performing a transformation, based on said proposal; and

deploying an on-demand service, based on said transformation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assessing and said mapping may be performed for a plurality of transformation stages.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assessing readiness for transformation further comprises:

providing assessment questions associated with said desirable application attributes; and

receiving input in response to said questions;

wherein said questions are designed to draw attention to transformation issues.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the chosen desirable application attribute will be implemented; and if so, determining whether help is needed for implementing the chosen desirable application attribute.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

including in said proposal one or more kinds of help, chosen from:

architectural consulting;

development consulting;

hosting consulting;

application enablement program consulting; and

technology education.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mapping further comprises:

providing at least one checklist; and

receiving input in response to said checklist.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said desirable application attributes are chosen from:

suitability for hosting;

use of on-demand center;

packaged for auto-provisioning;

multi-tenancy software maintenance and upgrade policy; and

application scalability.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said desirable application attributes are chosen from:

application metering capability;

application billing service;

portal;

user provisioning services;

application provisioning service;

customer care;

service oriented architecture based on web services; and

use of virtualized resources.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said desirable application attributes are chosen from:

single sign-on;

application self monitoring;

license agreement;

service level agreements;

integration with other applications;

user/enterprise qualification;

trial subscriptions;

resource provisioning; and

offer catalog.

10. A computer implemented method of transforming an application, said method comprising:

providing a set of desirable application attributes;

providing descriptions of said desirable application attributes;

providing assessment questions associated with said desirable application attributes;

providing an iterative process including a-d below:

(a) choosing a desirable application attribute from said set;

(b) concerning said desirable application attribute, assessing readiness for transformation;

(c) concerning said desirable application attribute, planning development work

(d) repeating the above three steps for a plurality of desirable application attributes chosen from said set;

executing said iterative process;

generating a proposal for transformation, based on results of said iterative process;

outputting said proposal;

performing a transformation, based on said proposal; and

deploying an on-demand service, based on said transformation.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

mapping at least some of said desirable application attributes to at least some kinds of help.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said executing, said generating and said outputting may be performed for one or more transformation stages chosen from:

a stage to be implemented upon deployment of an on-demand service;

a stage to be implemented approximately four to eight months after deploying said on-demand service; and

a stage to be implemented approximately twelve months or more after deploying said on-demand service.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said providing assessment questions further comprises providing one or more questions chosen from:

whether critical files that need to be backed up can be identified;

whether the application can be remotely administered; and

whether the application has enough security to be delivered on the Internet.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said providing assessment questions further comprises providing one or more questions chosen from:

whether the application allows multiple customers to use it in a shared manner;

whether the application has a hierarchical type of access;

whether the application's database implementation separates data of one customer from data of another customer;

whether direct queries to the application's database through database provided tools are disallowed;

whether the application or database architecture allows managing of a first customer's data without affecting a second customer's data;

whether the application implements safe and secure stateful sessions; and

whether the application has a versioning policy.