• Putting the Pieces Together

AccessDB

You

Excel Spreadsheet HQ Staff

SQLServer DB

Standard AF DB

(Gunter)

Unit POCS

Oracle DB

Base Web Services

Photo & Graphics

Files

PaperDocuments

Co-workers

SupervisorsBaseNetworkServices

Email

• Putting the pieces together

AccessDB

You

Excel Spreadsheet HQ Staff

SQLServer DB

Standard AF DB

(Gunter)

Unit POCS

Oracle DB

Base Web Services

Photo & Graphics

Files

PaperDocuments

Co-workers

SupervisorsBaseNetworkServices

EmailHow 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?

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

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

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

Examples

• Beckwith Consulting has developed several applications to provide “timely information”

• Examples with have– Problem– “Before” Description– Results and Benefits

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

Example (Infrastructure)

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

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

Example (Roofs)

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.

Example (5-Year Plan)

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.

Example (Contracts)

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”.

Example (WAR)

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

Example (AdvDocViewer)

Beckwith Consulting

• Formed in July 2001 to consult for AMC/CE.

• Incorporated in Apr 2002.

• Began 8(a) Application in Apr 2003.

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

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.

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