Explain why it is important to know when a system is approaching obsolescence. How does system obsolescence affect the development lifecycle for that system?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Significance of Identifying System Obsolescence
Introduction
In the realm of technology, obsolescence refers to the state in which a system or component is no longer considered current or supported. Recognizing when a system is approaching obsolescence is paramount for organizations as it enables them to make informed decisions about the future of that system. This essay will delve into the importance of identifying system obsolescence and how it impacts the development lifecycle for that system.
Importance of Knowing System Obsolescence
- Security Risks: Obsolete systems are more vulnerable to security threats as they no longer receive regular updates and patches. Identifying obsolescence allows organizations to assess the risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them.
- Performance Limitations: Outdated systems may lack the capabilities required to meet evolving business demands. Identifying obsolescence facilitates evaluation of performance gaps and the exploration of alternative solutions that better align with organizational needs.
- Compatibility Issues: As technology advances, older systems may struggle to integrate or interoperate with newer technologies or software. Recognizing obsolescence enables organizations to plan for future compatibility challenges and avoid potential disruptions.
- Vendor Support: Vendors often discontinue support for older systems, which means organizations no longer receive technical assistance, bug fixes, or updates. Knowing system obsolescence allows businesses to prepare for the loss of vendor support and seek alternative solutions if necessary.
- Cost Considerations: Operating and maintaining obsolete systems can become increasingly expensive due to limited availability of spare parts, higher maintenance costs, or higher labor costs associated with specialized knowledge. Identifying obsolescence helps organizations make informed decisions about cost-effective alternatives.
Impact on Development Lifecycle
- Planning Phase: When system obsolescence is identified during the planning phase, it prompts organizations to assess the need for system upgrades or replacements. This evaluation influences project requirements, budgeting, and resource allocation for the development lifecycle.
- Design and Development Phase: System obsolescence affects the design and development phase by influencing architectural decisions. It may require incorporating compatibility measures or rethinking certain design choices to accommodate future upgrades or replacements.
- Testing and Quality Assurance Phase: During testing, system obsolescence can pose challenges in verifying compatibility, performance, and security. Testing efforts may need to focus on identifying and mitigating risks associated with obsolete components or interactions with newer technologies.
- Deployment and Maintenance Phase: If obsolescence is identified late in the development lifecycle, it may necessitate additional time and resources for deployment. Organizations may need to undertake migration efforts, data transfer, or system reconfiguration. Maintenance of an obsolete system becomes more challenging due to limited vendor support and increased reliance on internal expertise.
Mitigating the Impact of Obsolescence
To mitigate the impact of system obsolescence on the development lifecycle, organizations should consider the following strategies:
- Regular Technology Assessments: Conduct periodic assessments to identify potential obsolescence risks and evaluate the overall health of systems in use.
- Future-Proof Planning: Incorporate future-proofing measures into system design and development to anticipate and accommodate technological advancements.
- Agile Development Approach: Adopt an agile development approach that enables flexibility and facilitates adaptation to changing technology landscapes.
- Vendor Relationships: Establish strong relationships with vendors to stay informed of product roadmaps, end-of-life timelines, and migration options.
- Documentation and Knowledge Management: Maintain thorough documentation and knowledge management practices to ensure the transfer of critical information about systems, dependencies, and potential obsolescence risks.
- Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor industry trends, technological advancements, and security vulnerabilities to proactively address obsolescence risks.
Conclusion
Understanding when a system is approaching obsolescence is crucial for organizations to mitigate security risks, address performance limitations, manage compatibility issues, and make cost-effective decisions. The impact of system obsolescence on the development lifecycle is significant, affecting planning, design, testing, deployment, and maintenance phases. By adopting strategies such as regular technology assessments, future-proof planning, agile development approaches, and maintaining strong vendor relationships, organizations can effectively mitigate the impact of system obsolescence and ensure the smooth functioning of their systems throughout their lifecycle.
