Progress 11/01/97 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The redesign of CU-MIS and the incorporation of CUAIMS into that new system is progressing. The developers have demonstrated an "administration module" that allows access to the core components of the system. This module is the key to entire system in that it will allow open access to those components within the system that build and maintain the web pages used by the users. Once this module is fully tested and used to build the web pages, the system will begin to take place. Preliminary steps have begun on the CUAIMS modules for the new CU-MIS. I have met several times with the lead programmer to ensure that the data that will be used is adequate and is dynamic for the users. Further work is necessary to progress past this early development but should begin to take place this federal FY. As yet, none of the data needed for the CUAIMS modules is being downloaded on a routine basis. Several obstacles have kept this process from being completed. I have been manually
downloading the data for a new module scheduled to a part of the new system - department spreadsheets. This new module will allow for a quick and easy way to see how each unit/department is using Experiment Station funds and the type of research that is taking place. The information is project based with significant amounts of detail supplied manually by Experiment Station staff. Once completed, this new department spreadsheet module will be a useful addition to the CU-MIS system. Full implementation of this new module should take place by the third quarter of federal FY 2007. The client-server application is currently being used by the Experiment Station while the web-based version is being developed. A new initiative for this project is being introduced in the new year. This new initiative will complement the work that was done in the old CUAIMS. If approved, a survey instrument will be used on key faculty to determine certain attributes/predictors of "high performing" faculty. The
old CUAIMS system was to help determine this type of information through CUBS data. This process will still used but without the CUAIMS as the basis for determining performance levels. Project terminated early due to resignation of principal investigator.
Impacts
The impact of the CUMIS/CUAIMS implementation will be significant. Administrators will be able to use the combined capabilities of these two systems to monitor activities associated with both the Experiment Station and Extension Service. The reporting processes will be easier and more accurate. The monitoring of activities will allow for better planning and setting of objectives and goals. The use by the faculty will allow easier access to their own accomplishments and data for self-examination and reporting. Once the new initiative is undertaken, the determination of the "high achievers" within the organization will be easier.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
New development within CU-AIMS has been slow this period. The organization is in the process of combining the information system for the Extension Service with that of CU-AIMS into one system. This is a monumental undertaking and will be a multi-year project. Preliminary meetings have taken place and recommendations have been submitted to the administration. A new system to track Experiment Station projects and their budgets has continued to be of great help to the administration. This new system, which will ultimately replace a primarily manual-based system of spreadsheets, will collect data from the university's financial system (CUBS) and other sources to show Experiment Station projects in each department along with various levels of support costs. The testing of this version will continue with the hope that it will be included in the next CU-AIMS redesign.
Impacts
Should the redesign take place in which Extension and the Experiment Station data is combined (as well as Regulatory), the impact will be significant for the management of the organizations resources.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
System maintenance has been the primary activity during this time period. Several areas within CU-AIMS have had limited design changes and a refinement of the data was undertaken. The design work was limited to only select areas that have proven troublesome to the end-user. The redesigns have been completed and seem to be working better. The refinement of the data has been and will continue to be an on-going process in that minor changes are continually being made by several data sources. A prototype of a new design was undertaken for PHP. This new design is a major overhaul of the system in that it trims out areas of the system that have had little on no use from the users. This new design affected the interface and the elimination of a number of data fields in the master database. The key objective of this new design is to enhance the number one use of the PHP system which is project financial tracking. The new design is in the early stages of testing and further
redesign will be forth coming after the first of the year (calendar year).
Impacts
Due to there being very little development done this period, the expected impacts are minimal. The potential for major changes in the coming year should lead to signifcant impacts with PSA accountability. Changes in CUMIS and reporting requirements of Extension should lead to additional system development by our team. If all goes as planned, the total system will be comleted integrated by FY 2006.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
New development within CU-AIMS has been somewhat modest this period. A redesign of the main page was implemented in July along with a prioritizing of menu items that better reflect the new structure of PSA. Several graphs were updated to reflect data from the end of state FY 2003. Preliminary discussions began on possible changes to CUMIS that will better align their data with financial records were encouraging. A tentative goal of implementing a new system for July 2004 was introduced and accepted. Should this change take place, a more cohesive link between CUMIS and CU-AIMS should be accomplished. Several measures were implemented in CU-AIMS during this year were set in place in anticipation of this change. A new system to track Experiment Station projects and their budgets was produced and tested in late December. This new system, which will ultimately replace a primarily manual-based system of spreadsheets, will collect data from the university's financial system
(CUBS) and other sources to show Experiment Station projects in each department along with various levels of support costs. The testing of this version will continue through the first quarter of calendar year 2004. Work continued on implementing a program-based work ethic that combines activities from both research and Extension. The success of this effort relates closely with the initiative to base all of PSA accountability reporting on the federal Plan of Work. Various offices are working on this initiative which will be supported by data from CU-AIMS when the concept is implemented.
Impacts
Due to there being very little development done this period, the expected impacts are minimal. The potential for major changes in the coming year should lead to signifcant impacts with PSA accountability. Changes in CUMIS and reporting requirements of Extension should lead to additional system development by our team. If all goes as planned, the total system will be comleted integrated by FY 2006.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
All three components of the information system CU-AIMS are working with very little problems. The Professional Home Page, a system for faculty and staff to view financial, personnel and research information about their work, was given extra publicity by the administration as the primary link to Clemson's data sources. Further enhancements to PHP are planned during the first half of calendar 2003 that will further insure its usefulness by all personnel. South Carolina Growing is in a real growth stage with many faculty groups (programs) utilizing the system. Debbie Dalhouse has more than doubled the information available in this system in the past year with the potential of having the system grow three fold in the coming year. The faculty has been most impressed with the type of information offered the public and the potential uses of the system. The core information component of CU-AIMS, IMS, has had modest improvements to the interface. This is partly due to required
maintenance of our data warehouse to accommodate changes in data from several data sources. This is an on-going process that will continue through this calendar year. The 'home page' was modified during November and December to give a more polished look to the system and make the 'headlines' more readable. A new process to update this page was developed that will make changing the 'home page' easier. This new process allows CU-AIMS staff to lay out the text with graphics, add/edit/delete new pdf reports, and make minor modifications to the layout, all with a single click and without rewriting code. The primary concerns facing CU-AIMS is with data. CUBS, the university's financial information systems, are going through many changes which in turn forcing us to make modifications to many of our screens and to our data warehouse. Partly because of our reputation of developing excellant systems, we are sharing our CU-AIMS staff with other areas of PSA and thus it is sometimes difficult to
get many CU-AIMS projects completed when needed. Although not a severe problem at this time, this could potentially lead to many delays in finishing modules and correcting problems as the budgets get tighter and staff are forced to serve many areas.
Impacts
The impact of what we have accomplished with CU-AIMS is still significant. CU-AIMS is considered the prime example of how to utilize various levels of data to improve performance. Our systems have forced the university to make many modifications to their delivery methods to accommodate the demand we have created for "good, reliable, easy to understand" reporting. We are still considered a leader among the land-grant universities in information delivery. The structure behind CU-AIMS is also getting much recognition as a revolutionary way to manage research and Extension activities. Although CU-AIMS is a new information system, it is also a new way to solve problems at land-grant universities. The concept of developing programs that utilize expertise from both research and Extension areas to solve problems is unique when meld with a true information/accountability system such as CU-AIMS.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
The information management system known as CU-AIMS is well into its 2nd year of existence. All three components of CU-AIMS, the Professional Home Page (PHP), South Carolina Growing (SCG), and the Information Management System (IMS) are active and are on the web for use. PHP, the first product developed in the CU-AIMS suite of products, is being used by a number of faculty even though it has not been widely promoted. There is still some interest from the non-Ag colleges and departments across campus to have this system available for their use but as of this date, the details for such a move have not been finalized. A major hindrance for such a move is the development of a University-wide data warehouse. Currently, much of the data needed for many of the components within in CU-AIMS relies heavily on access to University data. With the University moving toward building a data warehouse, much of the help we have been getting from our campus data sources are being
redirected toward the data warehouse project. Although a data warehouse will be of tremendous help to us in the long term, we are suffering in this period of development. In the year that South Carolina Growing has been under development, many changes have taken place. Our first attempt to develop South Carolina Growing via our contract with DCIT failed to live up to expectations. After several instances of fruitless undertakings with the contractor and after consulting the project leader of South Carolina Growing, it was decided to drop South Carolina Growing from the DCIT contract. This sent South Carolina Growing into a whole new direction and development process. The project leader, Debbie Dalhouse, developed a new prototype that was accepted. Although the new prototype was not as dynamic as the first SCG model, it was much easier to maintain and update. Presently, SCG is supplying information on six programs with more in the works. The third product in the CU-AIMS family is the
Information Management System. Although less than a year in development, the IMS has had the greatest impact on our organization and on Clemson. The IMS has successfully linked to the University's financial and HR databases to supply our IMS users with up-to-date information. The design and methodology has been hailed as a tremendous asset to the Agriculture administration. Our success with this system has spurred the University to look at our system for possible use at other colleges within the University and ultimately forced the University to pursue the development of the university-wide data warehouse. IMS currently has over 50 users with interest growing daily. It has been taunted as a national model for land-grant universities using information management systems. Many other land-grant universities have expressed interest in the system for possible use at their institutions. In summary, the year has been a good year for CU-AIMS. Much progress has been made and much recognition
has been given for our hard work. Still, we on the CU-AIMS team believe we have just begun to show what can be done. Our models show many exciting things for the future. It is truly just the beginning.
Impacts
The reactions from CU-AIMS have been significant. Local recognition as well as national recognition have all been positive. As a result of the interest in CU-AIMS here at Clemson, the University has begun to build a university-wide database to allow us to have greater access to all levels of data. The reactions at the national level have been such that it has been taunted as "national model" for Ag-related information systems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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