Java has rapidly emerged as an important tool for the development of cross-platform, distributed applications. While Java has been primarily associated with the Web, it is a much broader technology with applications far beyond the Internet. To take advantage of the capabilities of Java and its wide range of application programming services, an organization must enhance the skill base of its workforce in several critical areas, among them object-oriented programming, interactive and event-driven application development, distributed (client/server) systems architecture, and coming up rapidly, design and use of components (beans) for Java's component architecture, JavaBeans.

To create an effective and successful migration strategy for its development and project management staff, a company must consider several factors. These factors are discussed in detail in this article.

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Each group of potential Java users will likely need a different migration strategy. While one group, such as software developers, may need in-depth knowledge of the Java programming facilities, another group, such as project managers, need only a superficial understanding of the language features but a strong understanding of the impact that the use of Java has on a project. The audience for a migration effort can be broken into five distinct groups:

• Software Developers

• Web Masters

• Software Architects

• Project Managers

• Business Analysts