Volume 4. No 4 Information Technology News of the University of California, Davis December 1995

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Automating a Business Practice? Help is on the Way

by Debbie Lauriano, I.T. Information Resources

With information technology playing an ever increasing role in our business endeavors, managers are often faced with the challenge of selecting and developing software for office use. To facilitate software acquisition and development, Information Technology's Information Resources group has teamed with Planning and Budget and Enrollment Services to develop a methodology to guide managers through the process.

In developing the methodology, the committee analyzed the steps needed to identify, select, and, in some cases customize, software that meets the business needs of a department.

Called the UC Davis Application Development Methodology (ADM), the process is designed to assist individuals who are responsible for buying packaged software, writing feasibility studies, negotiating with outside vendors for software services, and developing software programs with in-house staff.

The ADM identifies the activities, roles, and deliverables associated with a variety of software development projects, including the following:

• Small System Software Development
• Large System Software Development
• Purchased Systems (installed "as is" or customized)
• Rapid Application Software Development
• Feasibility Assessment Projects
• Object-Oriented Software Projects

Two pilot projects are being used to test and refine the methodology for real world use:

• The first project is an internal Information Technology project managed by Ray Reveles. The purpose of the project is to implement an online system for tracking Information Technology purchasing transactions as well as inventory for projects and services. Information Technology business rules for purchasing will be incorporated into the application.

• The second pilot is a Planning and Budget project managed by Christi Bengard. This project will foster development of an inventory management system that will be used to track usage of campus facilities by various departments, colleges, and programs on campus. The system will be used to report space utilization to Office of the President, and it will provide departments online access to information about room usage and availability. Eventually, the program will allow individuals to view room floorplans and furniture arrangement online.

The ADM committee will make the methodology available to the general campus after the pilot projects are completed, sometime in mid-1996. Summaries of the pilot projects and subsequent projects using the ADM methodology will be published on the World Wide Web.

Noon-hour Brown Bag presentations also will be scheduled to introduce the campus community to the methodology.

Once the pilot projects are complete, Information Resources will provide methodology consulting to departments who are engaged in software initiatives.

If you have questions regarding the methodology, contact Debbie Lauriano, by sending e-mail to dalauriano@ucdavis.edu.