IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) Reviews

Vendor: IBM

3.6 out of 5

18 reviews
75% willing to recommend

1,151 followers

What is IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)?

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management stands out for its robust Agile Scrum planning, lifecycle traceability, and tool management, offering cloud-based configurability and strong collaboration features.

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IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is the #12 ranked solution in top Application Lifecycle Management Suites. PeerSpot users give IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) an average rating of 7.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 18 most recent IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 6.2. (Among the lowest in the category). IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is most commonly compared to Microsoft Azure DevOps: IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) vs Microsoft Azure DevOps. IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 72% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a manufacturing company, accounting for 23% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)

December 2024

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Featured reviews

Harold Pogue

Global IT Director of Digital Platforms. Digital and Connected Commerce at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

The team of 15 to 20 software engineers uses IBM Rational ALM and Jira for testing. They coupled different online packages together because the Duration Enterprise was impossible to use IBM Rational ALM did not help the organization and we ended up moving to another solution. The most valuable…

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Avijit Amitabh

Heaad of Automation Devision at Alstom Ferroviaria S.p.A.

The user interface requires significant improvement as it is overly complex. For business users with no experience in IT, it can be particularly challenging to understand the UI and create test cases or scenarios. Simplifying the technical terminologies and breaking it down to simpler terms would be beneficial, especially for users involved in user acceptance testing.

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Manoj Sajjan

Technical Lead at Microgenesis Techsoft Private limited

Maybe there should be more integration—the possibility with the third-party tools. Looking for more integrations specifically with third-party tools that customers can easily access to perform automation without affecting the system. Additionally, some improvements to the user interface (UI) would be helpful, such as exposing more services to make it easier to customize to the needs of each customer. In the next releases, I would like to see the ability to customize reporting without having to rely on a separate tool. So currently, for any customization with respect to reporting from the tool, we still depend on the reporting tool called the publishing engine. So, instead of depending on the publishing engine, we must have a capability that should be available in the next coming version.

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IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) in the Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites category stands at 2.8%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites	Jan 9, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) vs Jira	Jan 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) vs Microsoft Azure DevOps	Jan 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) vs Nutanix Cloud Manager (NCM)	Jan 9, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Microsoft Azure DevOps	4.1	20.3%	95%	130 interviews Add to research
Jira	4.1	23.7%	91%	274 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management offers rich planning features with Scrum concepts and comprehensive workflow capabilities, enabling seamless collaboration and lifecycle traceability. The customizability, integration with Git, and flexible workflow creation enhance usability. Powerful cataloging, reporting, and cloud-based functionalities contribute to its strong management and traceability. The audit trail, compliance strengths, and scalable SaaS transition make it advantageous. Its integration with other IBM tools and features like global configuration provide further efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

"The transition to a SaaS-based solution is a distinct advantage."
"The solution is customizable."
"Everyone in a team can work on the same platform and share the same information."

Room for Improvement

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management needs improvements in reporting features and user interface simplification. Enhancements for ease of use, including intuitive navigation and comprehensive tutorials, are needed. Greater functionality for traditional methodologies and enhanced stability are desired. Improved integration with third-party tools and better customization capabilities are also important. Expanded traceability metrics, interconnectivity, and better version control options are necessary. Meeting specific needs, updating the GUI, and facilitating planning and usability can enhance overall user experience.

"The user interface requires significant improvement as it is overly complex."
"The GUI is a little bit outdated."
"The product must be more user-friendly."

Pricing

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management pricing is perceived as high by organizations, especially when not all features are utilized. Licensing options include monthly and yearly plans. Some found setup costs additional. While not the cheapest, it's viewed as reasonably priced given its value and longevity in use. Despite its cost, the licensing expense of IBM Rational ALM is considered competitive compared to other market tools, making it a viable choice for enterprise buyers.

"The solution is not cheap."
"IBM Rational ALM has both monthly and yearly licensing options."
"This product is a little expensive and we had to pay extra to have them set it up for us."

Popular Use Cases

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) is primarily used for project management using Agile Scrum, requirements management, test management, configuration, version control, and performance monitoring. Users employ ELM in sectors like automotive and software development to enhance productivity, integrate tools, manage projects, and enable traceability. On-premises and virtual deployments support activities like planning, monitoring progress, capturing test cases, raising defects, and integrating into engineering processes for requirements and quality management.

Service and Support

Customer service and support for IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) are generally helpful and responsive. Several users find the technical support team satisfactory, although some suggest that improved response times and additional online resources, such as FAQs, would enhance the experience. Delays in reaching the appropriate support personnel and resolution times are noted, while documentation is well-detailed. Many rely on internal teams or local vendors, finding IBM's support valuable but slow in certain circumstances.

Deployment

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management's initial setup varies in complexity. Some find it straightforward and quick, with just a few clicks, while others see it as challenging and time-consuming. Experience in configuration and knowledge of Agile practices aids the process. Large-scale implementations may require significant resources, possibly extending over weeks or months. Administrators often manage setup, with additional materials available, but complexity can necessitate vendor assistance.

Scalability

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) demonstrates good scalability. Several organizations encountered no major issues adding users or projects, while others highlighted its scalability for large numbers of users. Some teams required additional background knowledge to scale effectively, and challenges were noted with specific features, like Rhapsody Design Manager. Licensing and IT infrastructure influence scalability. Companies experienced varying stability levels, but many rated scalability positively across diverse industry applications.

Stability

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) demonstrates high stability, running smoothly and reliably for most users, with some praising its robust performance. However, a few mention occasional bugs, slow loading times, and the need for frequent server reboots. Ratings vary, with some giving high marks for stability while others express lower satisfaction due to specific tool inconsistencies. Some components like Rational Team Concert and Rational DOORS Next Generation are stable, while Rational Design Manager receives lower stability feedback.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

23%

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Transportation Company

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Real Estate/Law Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Retailer

Insurance Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

University

Logistics Company

Construction Company

Engineering Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Consumer Goods Company

Marketing Services Firm

Hospitality Company

Compare IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) with alternative products

Learn more about IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM)

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management provides rich capabilities for Agile project management, facilitating requirements and test management, configuration management, and version control. Its integration with IBM Doors supports comprehensive requirements handling, and the cloud-based platform enhances collaborative efficiency across teams. Despite needing advances in user-friendliness and reporting, ELM's global configuration and compliance features make it invaluable in demanding environments.

What are the key features of IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management?

Scrum-based planning: Supports Agile methodologies with rich planning tools.
Lifecycle traceability: Offers complete traceability across development stages.
Customizable workflows: Adaptable workflows with Kanban for flexibility.
Git integration: Supports efficient version control and collaboration.
Global Configuration: Manages complex configurations globally.
Compliance and reporting: Ensures robust auditing and comprehensive reporting capabilities.

What benefits should be evaluated in reviews?

Collaboration: Enhanced sharing across platforms for seamless teamwork.
Cost-effectiveness: Delivers efficient tools that optimize project spend.
Comprehensive requirement handling: Facilitates detailed requirement management through IBM Doors integration.

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management is vital in sectors like automotive and manufacturing, where it implements Agile frameworks to manage requirements, conduct testing, and handle defects. It integrates into development pipelines ensuring live traceability and visibility, supporting critical engineering processes efficiently.

IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) was previously known as IBM Engineering Rhapsody, Rational ALM, MKS.