Re: Is DB2/400 still the correct terminology fo DB2 on the IBM i?

This is exactly what we went through (2013). After marketing reported the
issue with pushback from a large potential customer (and the CFO was in the
room) it only took upper management and marketing a couple days (and my
memo on what to call the system, and how it has evolved) a few days to stop
using the old terms.
It has taken IT and direct users longer, but we are past that.

On Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 10:35 AM, DrFranken <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Tue, Sep 22, 2015 at 4:57 PM, Justin Dearing <zippy1981@xxxxxxxxx> >

wrote:

There is absolutely, positively no chance of dislodging the "AS/400"
terminology where I work. Zero. None. It simply cannot be done. You
would have a much easier time moving the entire Sahara desert into
Siberia, one grain of sand at a time.

I can't argue with your company's position, clearly they have the old
names ingrained pretty deeply. Many grains of sand to be moved there. But I
will tell you a story about how "AS/400" cost a business dearly and how it
could be costing yours:

In discussions with a potential customer (would have been their largest to
date) the question was asked: "So what systems do you run your business
on?" The CIO knowing full well that they ran IBM i on POWER considered for
a second if they would know what that was. He answered: "AS/400." Nearly
instantly and before he could qualify that it was actually a successor
system, the potential customer said: "Well that's all we need to know. We
won't do business with someone who won't get out of the 90s."

Yep they lost the business. Now the skeptics among you may be saying well
they were probably just looking for an excuse and you may even be right.
But the point is why not lead with the correct and current name? "We run
IBM i on Power Systems." If you get blank stares or questions you then may
inform them: "You may recall the iSeries or the system before that the
AS/400. This system came from that heritage, still able to run those
programs but now more capable and powerful than ever."

This way you lead with current and sound current but remember the past.
You only get one chance to make a first impression.

And as to changing the use, I would bet you a fine steak dinner that if
you consistently say IBM i and Power Systems unabashed and like you mean it
for just six months in conversation, in emails, in documentation etc that
you WILL see that sand begin to move. Don't CORRECT People, don't push it
just use the names correctly. Over time the wind will pick up and help you
and others will follow. There will probably be hold outs no doubt but
you'll see progress until only the hold outs will be left looking, well,
old.

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.Frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com - Personal Development IBM i timeshare service.
www.iInTheCloud.com - Commercial IBM i Cloud Hosting.