1. What are some of the alternative ways or approaches in which Starwood Hotels and Resorts could carry out this project? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

2. How do you plan for the necessary capacity and performance that will be needed years from now? How would you know that you are, or will be, hitting those targets as the development of the new system unfolds?

3. If no one else in its industry has so far moved away from the legacy mainframe environment, should Starwood Hotels and Resorts wait as well? When is it a good idea to be the first company in an industry to break new ground? When is it not?