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Date: Sat, 9 Aug 1997 12:55:19 -0400
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From: "Robert V. Ferrara" <rferrara@MIT.EDU>
Subject: ASCII version of quarterly report 

<fontfamily><param>Times</param><bigger><bigger>IT Delivery Process

Fourth Quarter Report (April-June) - FY1997

HTTP://WEB.MIT.EDU/IS/DELIVERY/


I.  ACCOMPLISHMENTS


A.  NEW PROJECTS


SAP imaging project. At the request of CAO, a Discovery project was
initiated to determine the feasibility of imaging Acoounts Payable
invoices. The product being investigated is called iXOS Archive-link
and it is very tightly integrated with SAP.


SAP/MIT partnership. The project involves a colloboration with SAP
Technology to adopt their ITS (Internet Transaction Server)  for MIT
intended Web access to SAP. Two key security issues have been
identified and elevated to SAP senior management. If successful, this
effort would replace future in-house SAPweb development efforts. 


Procurement Credit Card. After evaluating several options, the team has
chosen to add the credit card functionality directly into SAP even for 
the initial August, 1998 pilot. Functional specs have been drafted,
including SAP table design. The program to accept the bank feed and
post/park to individual SAP users is being tested.


Student/Teacher Evaluation. This project entered Delivery this quarter.
the committee chosen by Peggy Enders has produced prototype forms,
which are currently being tested. Thanks to Bill Comstock, the
Libraries have proven an ability to rapidly scan and provide an
electronically imaged format the completed forms.


MIT Blue Pages on line. This project, sponsored by the Communications
office,  involves placing the Administrative and Office portion of the
MIT Directory online. The information would be updated as part of the
normal phonebook update process, but be more current.


SAP production change process. A new formal SAP production change
request process was piloted by the MR development team. After several
weeks in pilot appropriate modifications were made and the process was
then implemented in all relevant SAP process owner & development
areas.


SAP developer's authorization process. A new SAP developer's
authorization process was instituted,  complete with appeal capability.
 A new client authorization list which covering all SAP clients was
created. Implementation of this new process commenced on May 23.


B.  MILESTONES - SAP-RELATED PROJECTS


MR development team. Paul Page was asked to assume leadership of the MR
development team and developer oriented consultants. Much effort has
been spent in area of team building, planning, and hiring. the
development is now almost at full strength. During this  quarter the
development team had major responsibilities associated with SAP
implementation in Physical Plant, the Sloan School, and SAP related
special projects.


SAP WEB Interface Release 1. Release 1, which involves display only
capability for purchasing data,  was rolled out to the MIT community on
July 16, 1997. Within a week, a thousand visits were recorded. 


ROLES for SAP. a series of meeting were begun to outline use of the
Roles database for SAP. No "showstoppers" to the eventual use of ROLES
have yet been found. 


SAP Technical Documetation. The project plan was completed, as were
first drafts of  program and system templates. Several  developers
began using the templates to document the LDS system. A presentation to
the ABAP 4 developers class was given. Finally, the repository issue
has been resolved.


MIT Data Warehouse Financials. This project involves the transfer of
SAP transactional and master data as well as Sponsored programs Coeus'
data  into the MIT Data Warehouse. The sponsoring coalition of six
major research labs signed off on the design and rollout schedule for
the fall.


C.  MILESTONES - ALL OTHER PROJECTS


ADDSTRAT. This project targets the Implementation of Business System
Resource's Advance System to replace the current mainframe-based ADDS
System. This past quarter, the project was replanned to reflect a
migration to Oracle and the current due date is April, 1998.


AFS 3.4a Server Deployment.  A Project Plan has been entered in the
Project  Database and the review and selection of MIT patches
completed.


AFS Backup System. A system was built, general tests developed and
tried on proof of

concept platform. Patches from Transarc were provided for incremental
support and verified. The project supersedes the in-house "build"
project closed last quarter. With AFS version 3.4, key features missing
in earlier Transarc offerings are now available.


Electronic Catalog 1.0. Test purchases with the third vendor (BOC) were
conducted. Also polling of  ECAT users about possible increase from
$500 to $2500 purchase limit.


Help Tools Release 1.0. Work was resumed this quarter and centered on
resolving the  Scopus Macintosh client problems. The email/oracle
gateway is 90% complete and also the  GUI for the Web front end was
designed.


HostExplorer Rollout (PC Telnet). Both the  32 bit and 16 bit versions
of HostExplorer  were released for general use within the MIT
community, complete with installers.


Human Resources Practices Development. Steve Neiterman has remained one
of the core participants on the HRPD team. Steve contributed especially
in the areas of I/T and project planning issues.


Project Database Release 1.0. Version 1 has been in successful use all
quarter, with  some incremental changes made in response to user
requests.


The Query Facility.  TQF is now in limited production. Personnel is
gradually offering it to new customers. Installers have been written
for all three PC platforms and the MAC.  


Writing Requirement System, Release 1. During Q4 FY1997,  the team
decided to reduce the scope of Release 1 to encompass only FEE
functionality. They froze the functionality, the database schema, and
were nearing delivery as the  quarter came to a close. Reports
programming (using Brio Query), which is in the hands of the customer
were completed and ready by the end of the quarter.



II.  ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES


There were several new courses this quarter for MIT  technical staff.
An week long Advanced ABAP course was held in June for a dozen
developers in W89. Later, a one day  ABAP Query course for key process
owner and MR personnel  was also conducted in W89. Two three-day NT
developer courses were also held for I/T professionals.


A Service Entry Improvement project was initiated this quarter, headed
by Dave Lambert and Brian Murphy. the project aims to better define
Service needs and promote Service issues planning in earlier project
phases. 


Delivery Team Leaders Meetings. Delivery team leaders meetings continue
to be held, but a longer  intervals.  The goals of this forum, to shape
a common expectation of the Delivery process and to provide for
information sharing and brief status of all Delivery projects, are
largely being met.


Staffing and Recruiting. Only one major position, for which an offer is
outstanding,  is currently unfilled. Many of the people in W91
anticipated to staff new Delivery Projects remained involved in Service
activities. This situation is expected to improve after the VM/ESA
upgrade.


III.  PLANS FOR FOURTH QUARTER, FY97


A. SAP-RELATED PROJECTS


SAP imaging project. Complete fast-track Discovery project, including
vendor negotiations. If go decision, begin Delivery project.


MR Development Team. Major deliverables include Institute-wide
implementation and support of Rollout 98 phase 1, a Rollout 98 phase 2
pilot in the School of Science or

School of Engineering, and commencing the planning, design &
development for Institute-wide deployment of SAP scheduled to begin on
January 1, 1998.


SAP Process Owners. Continue to facilitate the transition of
development team and consultant developed SAP related functionality and
programs to MIT process owner

personnel as appropriate.


SAP Change Control. Begin work on moving the paper based change request
process to an

electronic based process and form with full reporting capabilities.


SAP Transport Process. In conjunction with the new change request
process, begin work on a new transport process to address current
transport issues and shortcomings. The

result of this effort should be a new a process that clearly identifies
roles and activities in the transport process and addresses current
issues and problems.


SAP/MIT partnership. Bring to conclusion SAP/MIT procurement/electronic
commerce partnership offer decision.


SAP WEB Interface Release 1. Complete bug fixes. For release 2, 
provide resource estimates for adding account number distribution and
lookup by vendor and account number. 


ROLES for SAP. Set up a prototype for SAP authorizations. Decide on
scope and schedule for SAP<<->Roles interface. Implement restrictions
on who-can-write-what within Roles DB. 


SAP Technical Documetation Project. Revise the change control process
to include documentation standards. Begin to produce documentation.
Design / approve long-term maintenance process. Design long-term
collection medium, access method, procedures.


MIT Data Warehouse. Publish detailed rollout plans. Develop joint
strategy with MR Project team.


Procurement Credit Card :Complete all functionality, including the
single reallocation screen, and begin rollout to larger pilot group.


B.  ALL OTHER PROJECTS


Addstrat. Conduct acceptance testing and power user training. Convert
reports. Buy and install second and third servers. Produce Policy and
Procedures Manuals and user documetation.


AFS 3.4a Server Deployment. Complete testing and proceed with general
deployment.


AFS Backup. Do large scale testing in search of stress points.
Determine an operational method using lessons learned. Put system into
production use.


Electronic Catalog 1.0 :Make new KSIGN available, with support for
Windows NT. Resolve billing problems with BOC Gases and officially
announce them as the 3rd vendor.


EPS. Make August deliverables. Assist in EDI solution.


Help Tools Release 1.0. make the go/no-go decision on rollout to the
help desk.  Complete build and testing of existing tools (GUI,
email/oracle gateway, web/oracle application). Decide on direction for
maintaining Scopus software.


MIT Blue Pages Online. Complete the effort to place the Administrative
and office portion of the MIT Directory online and establish a
consistent flow from the phonebook.


Projects Database. Continue to monitor quality, and build "cultural"
connection. Plan version 2.0.


Sponsored Programs Management System. Productionize data feeds to SAP.


Student/Teacher Evaluation. Complete prototype form. Complete Perl
scripts to automatically generate web pages from tabular evaluation
data.


TQF. Continue rollout. Transition to Service. 


Windows Discuss and Windows Zephyr and Mac Moira. None of these
projects saw any  progress due to lack of resources. Possibly some UROP
help can begin one. 


Writing Requirement System, Release 1. Test, and finalize all
components of Release 1: the Powerbuilder application, the database
schema, and various other pieces. Develop recovery plan for  delayed
FEE process. After the beginning of the academic year, return 
attention to

Release 2.


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