Quick scan

From Geostandards

Action

The problems of the SIP Department are related to the situation in other departments of the IngClub, especially the ICT Department, as this department deals with the information systems. In an article, the Head of the SIP Department has read that in a case like this the ICT architecture of an organisation should be looked at. The ICT architecture may no longer fit the increasing level of mutual dependency which exists between departments. Then, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) becomes important. Perhaps IngClub may have to try SOA?

Broad basis

This is why the Head of the SIP department suggests performing an organisation-wide Quickscan that has to give an answer to the question:

Will IngClub benefit by the introduction of SOA?

One would have to look at the consequences for the organisation structure, the modifications in the ICT situation that may be needed, the training needs of personnel and most importantly, the expected efficiency benefit. In the other departments and with the Management Board, the proposal is well received: these arguments have created a wide basis. The MT of IngClub agrees with the proposal.

Job for ICT

The Management Board of IngClub gives the ICT staff the task of performing this Quickscan. If necessary, the ICT Department is also ordered to outsource this task externally, if, for example, there is not enough knowledge and manpower in the department itself.

Outsourcing The Head of the ICT Department would like to outsource the task as work pressure in his department is already very high. He also knows that there is not enough expertise in his department either and searches his network for a reliable ICT Advisor who is also an SOA expert. Then, he formulates the task that the expert has to perform. He needs an answer to the following questions:

• Can SOA offer a solution for the problems that IngClub has?
• Is IngClub ready for SOA?
• What would the impact of the introduction of SOA be?
• What would the financial basis for the introduction of SOA look like? Costs= Benefits?

Selection and evaluation

From the experts, the Head of the ICT Department invites price estimates for a Quickscan to be made. A selection is made from all the offers that are invited. He finally chooses an agency called Xpert, not because it is the cheapest one, (not at all!), but mainly because the people of Xpert understand the working processes and the area that IngClub works in. He also selects another SOA expert advisor to give a second opinion about the results of the Quickscan that was performed by Xpert. This is necessary, as IngClub itself is not able to evaluate this opinion because of a lack of SOA expertise.

Performance

Requirements Quick scan

• A trans departmental concern to improve should become visible;
• Internal co-operation and the level of cooperation with external parties should be ripe for improvement;
• The necessary improvement should be attainable by applying an SOA;
• The management should be willing and able to cover the necessary costs and to make the modifications.

Details Quickscan Some core questions that Quickscan needs are:

• Is the organisation made up of several co-operating departments?
• Are (geo) datasets exchanged with other organisations?
• Is there a rich pallet of software tools (functions, out-of-date, provider)?

Failure factors Quickscan

The departments involved have not jointly determined what is important for them.

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