Shifting from Big Bang Upgrades to Monthly Releases in PPM
University of Notre Dame reduced upgrade risk by adopting Planview's monthly release model with risk-based testing instead of full regression.
The case study details how Notre Dame transitioned from infrequent, large-scale application upgrades to monthly iterative releases for its Project Portfolio Management system. By implementing sandbox testing, reviewing targeted release notes, and focusing on high-risk functionality, the university eliminated extended cutover windows and reduced resource demands. The approach keeps the environment current with security patches and new features while simplifying change management.
Monthly releases replace big-bang upgrades and lower overall project risk
Risk-based testing replaces full regression, saving staff time each cycle
Sandbox validation plus one-week test window precedes automatic production push
Release notes enable focused testing on relevant, high-impact changes
Continuous updates deliver security fixes and features without manual intervention
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