On May 12 Izzi Software will host The Z Knowledge Cliff: Preparing for the Next Generation of Mainframe Talent, a virtual roundtable discussion featuring senior mainframe technology leaders from ColeSoft exploring critical themes related to the transition of knowledge in IBM Z environments. With esteemed speaker Ray Mullins from Broadcom leading the charge, attendees can expect an engaging conversation focused on capturing deep expertise and cultivating the developers of tomorrow.
The need to prepare the next generation of mainframe talent is more pressing than ever. Z systems that run the world’s largest enterprises and organizations have been meticulously built by generations of engineers whose specialized skills are becoming increasingly rare. The central challenge lies in preserving this irreplaceable knowledge and ensuring that new talent is equipped with the necessary tools and understanding to master these complex systems. This roundtable discussion aims to confront this challenge head-on, sparking dialogues about effective knowledge transfer methods and the essential skills upcoming Z developers need to thrive.
This isn’t a theoretical problem: it’s a very real one. According to Kyndryl, the skills gap is about more than just finding people who know how to program COBOL and Assembler.
One significant topic of discussion will be the irreplaceable experience that senior engineers possess: the insights and skills that are not documented in any playbook. This deep expertise, gained through decades of real-world experience, can be difficult to articulate: this creates challenges for both knowledge transfer and onboarding new talent. The roundtable will ask participants to consider how they can effectively harness and share these crucial insights within their teams to prevent the loss of irreplaceable institutional knowledge.
Another focal point will be how to leverage tools and technologies that can capture this deep knowledge. While some tools have proven invaluable in preserving expertise, others may inadvertently foster false confidence among new developers. The conversation will explore which kinds of tooling genuinely support knowledge retention and transfer while highlighting potential pitfalls that could mislead architects and engineers, and lull them into a false sense of security.
The speakers will also address how peers in the industry are successfully recruiting and developing the next generation of Z talent. What strategies are being employed to attract young engineers to a field that requires such specialized knowledge? Participants will share innovative approaches, from mentoring programs to hands-on training opportunities, aimed at bridging the skills gap in mainframe technology.
Finally, attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences and share their insights into how to effectively communicate the significance of this knowledge transfer to their senior leadership, including CIOs. If given just 10 minutes, what case would you make to ensure that the importance of nurturing new talent is understood and prioritized in the organization’s strategic planning?
With the stakes so high for the future of mainframe technology, the ColeSoft Roundtable promises to be an enlightening session for those dedicated to avoiding the “Z Knowledge Cliff” and ensuring a vibrant future for the mainframe ecosystem.For more information on the roundtable, or to participate, please visit https://tinyurl.com/IBMZ-SKills-Gap