Method, apparatus, and program for implementing an automation computing evaluation scale to generate recommendations

Abstract

An automation assessment tool is provided that defines autonomic technology, processes, organization, and skill sets that apply to autonomic computing. The automation assessment tool provides educational material about autonomic computing and a scale of maturity levels, which is used to assess on-demand preparedness. The automation assessment tool presents a survey and collects answers to the survey questions. The automation assessment tool then determines solutions and recommendations to achieve a target level of on-demand preparedness.

1 . A method, in a data processing system, for assessing automated computing capabilities, the method comprising: 
 receiving information about automated computing capabilities of a customer;    assigning a maturity level from a set of maturity levels to each of a plurality of assessment categories based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer; and    providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing to the customer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 presenting educational information about automated computing to the customer.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the educational material identifies the set of maturity levels.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the educational materials identifies the plurality of assessment categories.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer includes: 
 presenting a plurality of survey questions; and    receiving answers to the plurality of survey questions.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of survey questions include multiple-choice answers.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing includes: 
 determining solutions for automated computing based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing includes: 
 determining recommendations for achieving a target level of automated computing based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing includes: 
 determining operational efficiency savings for the target level of automated computing relative to the automated computing capabilities of the customer.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of maturity levels includes basic, managed, predictive, adaptive, and autonomic.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of assessment categories includes problem management, availability management, security management, solution deployment, user administration, and performance and capacity management.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing to the customer includes: 
 changing at least a portion of the information about automated computing capabilities of the customer to for changed information; and    determining a change in the maturity level for each of the plurality of assessment categories based on the changed information.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 using an expert system to analyze historical information using a set of rules.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, in a data processing system, for assessing automated computing capabilities, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for receiving information about automated computing capabilities of a customer;    means for assigning a maturity level from a set of maturity levels to each of a plurality of assessment categories based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer; and    means for providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing to the customer.    
     
     
         15 . A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for assessing automated computing capabilities, the computer program product comprising: 
 instructions for receiving information about automated computing capabilities of a customer;    instructions for assigning a maturity level from a set of maturity levels to each of a plurality of assessment categories based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer; and    instructions for providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing to the customer.    
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 instructions for presenting educational information about automated computing to the customer.    
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the educational material identifies the set of maturity levels.  
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the educational material identifies the plurality of assessment categories.  
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for receiving information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer include: 
 instructions for presenting a plurality of survey questions; and    instructions for receiving answers to the plurality of survey questions.    
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of survey questions include multiple-choice answers.  
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing include: 
 instructions for determining solutions for automated computing based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer.    
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing include: 
 instructions for determining recommendations for achieving a target level of automated computing based on the information about the automated computing capabilities of the customer.    
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing include: 
 instructions for determining operational efficiency savings for the target level of automated computing relative to the automated computing capabilities of the customer.    
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the set of maturity levels includes basic, managed, predictive, adaptive, and autonomic.  
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of assessment categories includes problem management, availability management, security management, solution deployment, user administration, and performance and capacity management.  
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for providing information for achieving a target level of automated computing to the customer includes: 
 instructions for changing at least a portion of the information about automated computing capabilities of the customer to for changed information; and    instructions for determining a change in the maturity level for each of the plurality of assessment categories based on the changed information.    
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 instructions for using an expert system to analyze historical information using a set of rules.