Architecture Migration From Monolithic to Microservices: Developing Readiness Criteria

Through the implementation of microservices architecture, organizations aim to speed up digital transformation in their digital services. Nevertheless, the architectural migration process is not without its obstacles. Organizations must face multiple impediments during the process. One of the factors contributing to the issues that arise during the migration process is the organization’s inclination to follow trends and its limited understanding of microservices. This study aims to develop a set of readiness criteria that could serve as the basis for readiness evaluation. We analyze the proposed criteria using the Technology-Organizational-Environment (TOE) and Human-Organization-Technology-fit (HOT-Fit) framework. We also conducted an interview study using the Delphi method with ten experts to refine the proposed criteria. The participating experts are experienced in executing architectural migrations. The following criteria are quantified using the Analytic Network Process (ANP), a method within Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM). We conducted a case study on the government’s back-office application to evaluate the result of the built-in criteria. The findings indicate that organizational, human, environmental, and technological variables significantly impact the readiness level in migration decision-making. In the organizational context, leadership commitment is the most crucial criterion. While in the human context, the programmer’s ability is critical. In the context of the environment, user satisfaction is vital. In the technological context, the quality of information and security are paramount. Furthermore, we provided an overview of future research opportunities and addressed the constraints of our research after the article.