Putting the Pieces Together

1. Putting the Pieces Together Excel Spreadsheet Base Web Services HQ Staff Email Unit POCS Co-workers Photo & Graphics Files Oracle DB Supervisors You Base Network Services Access DB Paper Documents SQLServer DB Standard AF DB (Gunter)

2. Putting the pieces together Excel Spreadsheet Base Web Services HQ Staff Email • How do you bring information together • Without Redundant Information Gathering ? • Without Burdening the Information Collectors ? • With multiple points of Data Entry ? • With multiple sources of Information ? • With multiple organizational levels ? • With automatic checks for obsolete/old Info? Unit POCS Co-workers Photo & Graphics Files Oracle DB Supervisors You Base Network Services Access DB Paper Documents SQLServer DB Standard AF DB (Gunter)

3. Today’s IT Environment • GOAL: Get timely information • PROBLEM: • Different databases • Different locations • Different formats • Different time zones • CHALLENGE: Organize, Store, Sort, Filter, and create information to achieve the GOAL • Different security levels • Different organizational levels • Different needs • Different standards

4. Finding Information • Often the desired information already exists, somewhere (probably many somewheres) • It is the mission of IT to put these pieces together • Locating appropriate data sources • Organizing, Sorting, Consolidating, and Filtering this information • Create new data sources, as required • Bringing these information sources together • Create a means of navigating, searching, and displaying your desired information

5. Creating New Info Sources • If the information doesn’t exist, take advantage of leading technology • Web-based databases • Web-based presentation screens and reports for both administrative and customer • Easy to use screens will make information input and updates easy and error-free • “Smart” navigation, security, search, and report displays will provide appropriate access to all user levels

6. Examples • Beckwith Consulting has developed several applications to provide “timely information” • Examples with have • Problem • “Before” Description • Results and Benefits

7. Example (Infrastructure) • Problem • Needed standard list and description of AMC infrastructure projects for prioritization & funding • “Before” Description • Infrastructure projects were entered in different DBs at various bases with no standards and inconsistent update. Many non-ACES projects on the books • Results and Benefits • Infrastructure application compiles daily update from ACES-PM and an internal AMC database to allow base, AMC, and AF personnel to see project priority, status, and budgeting details. FY prioritization and budgeting are now easily accomplished

8. Example (Infrastructure)

9. Example (Infrastructure) Cont’d • Results and Benefits (Continued) • Stoplight Chart is a one page “drill-down” that quickly shows Infrastructure status by base and system with “get-well” information • ACES-PM project details and photographs are easily accessible • Printable worksheets make FY planning sessions quicker and more efficient

10. Example (Roofs) • Problem • Needed a database to track roofing across AMC, specifically, age, description, maint., warranty info & cost • “Before” Description • Sparse and inconsistent records maintained in paper, spreadsheet, and databases at various bases • Results and Benefits • Infrastructure application is based on ACES-RP and allows base and AMC personnel to see building and roof details across every base. Application also stores photos, warranty information and inspection reports. Goal is to budget effective maint. & replacement of all roof sections

11. Example (Roofs)

12. Example (5-Year Plan) • Problem • Needed standardized 5-year plans for infrastructure budgeting • “Before” Description • Only a few bases possessed 5-year plans. Those plans were either word processing or spreadsheet files with no standardization or reference to ACES-PM projects • Results and Benefits • The 5-Year Plan application compiles daily updates from ACES-PM and an internal AMC database to allow base, AMC, and AF personnel to see project priority, status, and budgeting details. Projects can now be easily added to the 5-year plans with a “instant” 5-year plan available on-line.

13. Example (5-Year Plan)

14. Example (Contracts) • Problem • Needed a central reference for service contracts within AMC, including: Custodial, Grounds, Refuse, & Service Contracts • “Before” Description • Tracking of contracts was inconsistent between bases and even base managers • Results and Benefits • The Contract application maintains an overview for all AMC custodial, grounds, and service contracts. This greatly facilitates both FY budgeting and oversight capability.

15. Example (Contracts)

16. Example (WAR) • Problem • Needed to collect Weekly Activity Report (WAR) inputs across the AMC/CE staff with supervisor approval from branches to division to CE Front Office • “Before” Description • Weekly taskers were a tangle of emails consolidated by branch and then division secretaries, before approval and consolidation by Front Office • Results and Benefits • WAR Application allow branches and divisions to input both bullets and tables. Each division approves their input prior to CE Front Office approval and “publishing”.

17. Example (WAR)

18. Example (AdvDocViewer) • Problem • Needed to distribute document, pdf, and graphic files to .mil/.gov agencies for review and comment. • “Before” Description • Large document and attachment size caused very large email attachments or required the creation of data CDs for FEDEX or regular postal delivery. • Results and Benefits • Advanced Document Viewer allowed users to quickly post and update document and graphics files. These files are available instantly via the web

19. Example (AdvDocViewer)

20. Beckwith Consulting • Formed in July 2001 to consult for AMC/CE. • Incorporated in Apr 2002. • Began 8(a) Application in Apr 2003.

21. Company Capabilities • Project Management • Past experience as manager for 10+ programmer shop with both commercial and government accounts • Used managerial and technical expertise to achieve successful client management and application development • Training • Experienced with both formal and OJT training for programmers. Several students awarded Allaire’s Cold Fusion Certification test • Familiar with current usage of web technology

22. Company Capabilities (cont’d) • Programming Services • Certified Cold Fusion Developer • Expert at Cold Fusion and Active Server Pages • Expert at MS SQL Server and Oracle databases • Capable of providing other web-related services: Javascript validation, Flash introduction, domain name management, Secure Socket Layer setup, and more.

23. Summary • New “Information Sources” can make personnel more efficient at all levels—the right information at the right time • Implementation of “smart” web applications can leverage the power of the web and existing information to provide customized information access (read and/or write) to all necessary organizational levels • Elegant applications will provide standardized, easy to display information for decision-making at all levels