1. Understanding IMS and Your Role
IMS Overview
1 hour
PowerPoint
Our IMS Applications and Data
Our IMS Systems
Webinar
Understanding IMS and Your Role
= Datatrain Course Modules
Introducing IMS
Introducing IMS Transaction Manager
Introducing IMS Database Manager
Introducing IMS System Components
Understanding IMS and Your Role
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Insert your organization’s name in the slide above along with the date and time that the Webinar will begin.
Pre-Session Activity
Prior to the session, obtain some information about the attendees: who they are, where they work, what their background is (e.g. application programmer, operator, new graduate). This gives you background information on your group so you can better tailor some of the presentation specifically to their needs. At the end of the previous PowerPoint presentation, attendees were asked to forward you any questions they may have relating to the content in this pathway. This should also be included in this session.
As attendees come online, make the time to briefly chat with them and ask questions such as: how they have found the course so far, what their involvement with the system currently is, and what it may be in the future. This is information you will be able to share with the group when you are ready to start (see next slide).
Presenter/Producer: Approximately 20 minutes before the Webinar, make sure the welcome slide above is displayed so that when participants log in they know immediately they are in the right place at the right time. You may also want to have rotating slides that display general information such as how they can ask questions throughout the session, what information will be available to them afterwards (e.g. handouts, recording of the session).
Allow a maximum of 3 minutes after the scheduled start time for any late attendees. This provides a general courtesy to those that may have been detained for genuine work related reasons, while not annoying those who have joined promptly and are waiting to begin.
Presenter/Moderator: Welcomes those that have joined the Webinar and describes general information about the session such as using the webinar features as well as session specific details identifying how long the session will be (30-40 minutes, although you may have a more accurate idea once you have given the presentation a “dry run”), pre-requisites for the session (shown on the right of the welcome slide), interaction that will occur throughout the session (several exercises to keep participants busy) and that there is a 5-10 minute Q & A session at the end.
Company Name
Date - Time
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2. About You Background Numbers Another Group 2 Another Company 1
New Graduate 4
Graphic
Update this screen with information for your group.
Get this information from the pre-session notes from the previous page.
Audio
This is a good opportunity to expand on the private conversations you may have had when welcoming people to the session. For example, you may mention that before the session you had an opportunity to chat with a few of you about your induction training and the work you are currently performing. Also mention that this information is important because there are several topics covered where we discuss how it is relevant to you or the area you work in.
These are good icebreaker exercises and usually relaxes the attendees knowing a bit about the other participants.
Example: This session is all about you (attendees) and obtaining the knowledge you need to perform your workplace tasks. Just so everyone knows a little about each other I have created a breakdown of the background of those attending, and the area they work in.
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3. Objectives Questions from the Course So Far Who Supports IMS?
Current and Future IMS Priorities and Directions
Audio
Introduce students to what will be covered in this Webinar.
Example:
The Datatrain training modules and internal PowerPoint presentations you have undertaken so far have focused on introducing you to IMS, and how it works at our site. So far all the content has been technical.
The aim of this session is to introduce you to the teams that support IMS, and what each does. We will also look at current and future IMS priorities and directions.
But first, lets cover some questions and queries about the course so far.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

4. Clarification of Previous Material
General comments received
Technical queries on IMS
Audio
This is where you cover any questions raised by learners during the course. You can also expand on anything that may need to be cleared up, or any other technical issues.
This could be a good place for learners to ask any other questions.
Example:
I’ve received two questions about the course so far. So let’s look at them:
(Question)
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

5. Who Supports IMS? IT Infrastructure Mainframe Support
Database Administration
Systems Programming
Application Development
UNIX Support
Windows Support
Security
Help Desk
(ABC)
Graphic
Update this screen with the organization chart of your Information Technology groups, and highlight those that support IMS.
Audio
This is where you introduce the different groups and teams that support IMS. Add some information about each. If your students are in one of these groups, point this out, and ask them to explain their role.
Example:
IMS support is shared amongst several different teams within the IT Infrastructure group.
The Help Desk is outsourced to ABC Company. This is the first port of call for any IMS problems found by our users. The Help Desk will gather information about the problem, and send it to the relevant support group. The Security group perform all IMS security administration, and perform regular IMS security audits. Charlie Jones, one of the students in this course, works in the Security group. Tell us about your job Charlie.
The Database Administration, Systems Programming and Application Programming groups perform the IMS administration and problem resolution.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

6. Application Programmers
John Smith
Manager
Fred Blue
Batch
Helen Gold
COBOL/Easytrieve
Alan Green
IMS Lead
David Grey
COBOL
Dan Silver
COBOL/Java
Graphic
Update this screen with the organization chart of your Applications Programmers that support IMS. Possibly add a picture of each.
Audio
This is where you can introduce the Application Programming team, and what it does. Add some information about each.
If a student works in this group, point this out and ask them about their role.
Example:
The Application Programmers develop new IMS applications and support existing ones. One of this team is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deal with any application program problems. Dale Stevens in this course works with the Application Programmers. Tell us about your job Dale.
Fred Blue is responsible for IMS Batch applications, and he has Helen Gold to help with COBOL and CA-Easytrieve. Alan Green is responsible for IMS online applications, and has David Grey and Dan Silver with him.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

7. Database Administrators
Robert Pink
Manager
Andrew Waters
IMS
Rachael Brown
Graphic
Update this screen with the organization chart of your Database Administrators that support IMS. Possibly add a picture of each.
Audio
This is where you can introduce the IMS Database Administration team, and what it does. Add some information about each.
If a student works in this group, point this out and ask them about their role.
Example:
The Database Administrators, or DBAs, create and maintain the IMS databases. They spend a lot of their time monitoring and tuning the databases: getting the best performance, and making sure that there are no database related problems. There is always one DBA on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Robert Pink has several DBAs in his team. Two are responsible for the IMS databases: Andrew Waters and Rachael Brown.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

8. Dan Jones Jane Sampson Paul Simson Manager CICS/IMS IMS
Systems Programmers
Dan Jones
Manager
Jane Sampson
CICS/IMS
Paul Simson
IMS
Graphic
Update this screen with the organization chart of your Systems Programmers that support IMS. Possibly add a picture of each.
Audio
This is where you can introduce the Systems Programming team, and what it does. Add some information about each.
If a student works in this group, point this out and ask them about their role.
Example:
The Systems Programmers support the IMS systems. They install and customize IMS, and monitor and tune the systems. One of this team is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deal with any application program problems.
Paul Simson performs the bulk of the IMS Systems Programming work. Jane Sampson divides herself between CICS and IMS.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

9. IMS Priority 1: Keep IMS Systems Running
Goal: Zero Unscheduled IMS outage.
Challenges: IMS database maintenance, increased CICS usage, application abends.
Past Projects: Workload Sharing, Application Reliability, Database Management
Current Projects: HALDB, Workload sharing.
Future Projects: New database tools.
Graphic
Update this graphic with the primary priority for IMS groups. This graphic shows an example.
Audio
The next few screens are an opportunity to talk about what’s happening with IMS in your organization. Students are introduced to the issues, challenges and projects with IMS. Each slide deals with one of the IMS priorities at your site, and past, present and future projects relating to that priority. This is an excellent place to involve your students in a discussion about IMS at your site.
Example:
The number one priority of all IMS support groups is to keep our IMS systems and applications up and running. In the past, IMS availability has suffered for a couple of reasons. Our applications had regular abends, and we had to shut down IMS regularly for maintenance. IMS use is also increasing at an average of 10% every year. This increase is from increased use of existing applications and data, and new applications that are being developed. Our availability requirements for IMS have also increased to the point that IMS is now needed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the past two years, we have spent a lot of time improving our applications. We have also begun implementing HALDB databases that can be backed up and re-organized online. Downtime has also been reduced by changing our database maintenance procedures .
Let’s talk about IMS availability. What areas do you think impact how long IMS stays up? (Start discussion about availability. Discuss user availability needs, operational needs for backup and batch processing, current trends and IMS features that can help).
We are currently working to implement improve our workload sharing. We are also evaluating new database tools that can further reduce downtime needed for database management.
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10. IMS Priority 2: Get the Most From IMS
Goal: Open up IMS applications and data.
Challenges: Security, connectivity, control.
Past Projects: Websphere MQ, OTMA
Current Projects: IMS Connect, ODBM
Future Projects: IMS and SOAP.
Graphic
Update this graphic with the secondary for IMS groups. This graphic shows an example. Add more slides for as many priorities as you wish.
Audio
Talk about your organization’s secondary IMS priority.
This is a good place to start a group discussion about IMS as it relates to this priority.
Example:
Our company has a large investment in our IMS applications and data. So it makes sense to get the most out of this investment. In the past, several applications on other platforms have been developed, when an IMS application was already doing the same task. Today, we’re working to open up our IMS applications and databases to external users – both on z/OS and on other platforms like Windows and UNIX. We are also working to make IMS applications and databases more friendly and useful to these external applications.
Let’s talk about these external applications for a moment. How can an external application connect to IMS? (Start discussion about IMS access, and the options available in your configuration. Discuss the issues for your organization related to this).
Maintaining a secure system is very important, so security is very much a current issue with the improved access to IMS. We also need to keep control of who uses these IMS applications. If we need to bring down an applications or make a modification, we need to know who will be affected. Without understanding who accesses IMS, we cannot provide the best service.
Over the past three years we have done a lot of work in opening up IMS. Websphere MQ and OTMA has already opened up IMS to many batch jobs and external applications. We are currently working to improve this with IMS Connect and ODBM.
We are also beginning to trial IMS and SOAP, to see if this is a viable solutions for us.
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11. Summary Who Supports IMS?
The Application Programmers, Database Administrators and Systems Programmers
IMS Priorities and Projects
Audio
Example:
This finishes the Introducing IMS course. You have covered technical theory from the Datatrain courses, related this to our systems, and looked at our priorities and projects.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence

12. Questions IMS Overview Presenter:
1 hour
PowerPoint
Our IMS Applications and Data
Our IMS Systems
Webinar
Understanding IMS and Your Role
= Datatrain Course Modules
Introducing IMS
Introducing IMS Transaction Manager
Introducing IMS Database Manager
Introducing IMS System Components
Questions
Presenter:
An opportunity for you to respond to any questions that learners want to ask (5-10 minutes).
Complete the Webinar by:
Thanking them for attending.
Outlining what their next step in the training process is.
Mentioning that the Webinar will be made available to them for replaying if they require. An will be sent informing them of the details.
Mention that the HR team may send them a survey to complete.
Copyright © Interskill Learning Pty Ltd 2011 – Commercial in Confidence