COMMON POWERUp 2026

Your senior developers hold decades of business logic in their heads. When they retire, that knowledge walks out the door. But what if you could capture that expertise in an AI system that new developers could query? In this session, we'll show you how to build intelligent documentation systems that preserve institutional knowledge. You'll see how AI can analyze existing applications to extract business rules, generate comprehensive documentation from code, and create interactive knowledge bases that answer questions about your systems. We'll demonstrate techniques for documenting legacy applications automatically, capturing tribal knowledge through AI-assisted interviews, and building searchable knowledge bases that understand context. You'll learn practical approaches for knowledge preservation, see real examples of companies that successfully captured expertise before retirement, and understand the tools and processes required. Whether you're facing imminent retirements or want to preserve knowledge proactively, you'll leave with actionable strategies for protecting your organization's most valuable asset: expertise.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will learn strategies for using AI to preserve institutional knowledge before experts retire. They'll understand automated documentation techniques, knowledge capture processes, and implementation approaches for AI-powered knowledge bases that make expertise accessible.

We’ve all heard the saying: Don’t be afraid of change - be afraid of not changing. But let’s be honest - change is hard. Whether it’s outdated technology, entrenched processes, or resistance from within, modernization can feel like an uphill battle. Does it frustrate you when your applications are labeled legacy? You're not alone. This session is a real-world case study of how one retailer navigated the journey to modern application development using IBM technologies, including Power, IBM i, Ansible, and more. Along the way, they didn’t just modernize their apps—they transformed how IT is perceived within the company. IT is in a prime position to drive meaningful change. But how do you start? How do you overcome resistance and build excitement? In this session, you’ll learn practical strategies to shift mindsets, gain leadership buy-in, and turn legacy into WOW!

Learning Objectives:

`- The key differences between modernization and modern application development—and why it matters. - Proven strategies to lead people through change and turn skeptics into champions. - How to demonstrate the business value of IT and secure executive buy-in. - Lessons from a company that successfully transitioned to modern application development—and its approach to IT.