Introduction
Research Publications Information Systems (RIS) is used for storing data on current research by organisations and people. It helps to improve the quality of research produced.
a. Who is currently using RIS?
There are several Universities in Australia who are currently using the RIS system. The system is also used at researchers, students, research groups, faculties and at University levels in Australia. Oz University is also considering implementingg the RIS.
b. How does it work?
RIS is a central location used for storing information on all past and current research activities throughout an Institution. The RIS captures information about publications and stores them in the system. It allows for the entering of the details and an attached copy of research publications. The RIS provides for automatic updating of the researcher’s web profile. It allows users an immediate overview of all historical and ongoing research projects which facilitate instant comparisons between projects. (Eric et al 2008)
c. Which vendors can provide it?
There are several vendors who can provide the RIS services to the University. However, the vendor should be one who understands the current information system of the university like the Web Objects which is a software development firm that is very farmiliar with the University’s Information Technology environment an applications.
d. Do you think it’s an important feature to provide for researchers and the university?
RIS is an important important feature to be provided for researchers and the university. This is because of the strong features that it posses which help in handling research publications. Some of the advantages of using the RIS include: providing a dynamic link to research profiles at researcher, student, research groups, faculties and at the university level. The RIS also provides strong motivations for researchers to keep their list of publications up-to-date by providing a dynamic link to their web profiles and the external data repository. (Oates, 2005)
2. Reasons for investing in RIS. RIS has several benefits to the resarchers which also ensure that quality research is produced.
Potential strengths
Research oriented: The University is research oriented and the implementation of the RIS can make the Research management easier.
Increase in funding: This offers more opportunities to the researchers to sharpen their skills.
Committed Vice-Chancellor: The University has a vice-chancellor who is committed towards ensuring that the univerity becomes successful as far as research is concerned. He does this by lifting the research profile of the university.
Weaknesses
Some of the weaknesses in the University are lack of a proper system to handle the research and and lack of Research Management System which can motivate researchers and make them feel that their work is appreciated.
Minimal research benefits: This has made many researchers quit the institution.
High workload with the old spreadshhet: This has made it hard for the researchers to record their work which makes it very hard for them to carry out their research work.
Opportunities
The university has several opportunities open to the researchers which can help them explore their research skills. Being a leading university in research, there are several research materials available in the University. This offers several opportunities to students and the staff who want to sharpen their research skills.
There are opportunities that are likely to come with the announcement by the Pro Vice-Chancellor to continue to lift the research profile of the University and attract highly qualified research staff and students thus reducing the loss of younger researchers who continue to move away from the University to other universities which are seen to be more progressive.
Qualified staff: There is a likelihood of more qualified staff coming into the university as a result of the initiative put by the vice chancellor
Threats
Lack of a proper compensation scheme which results into researchers quiting the university and moving to other institutions which are more progressive.
Competition from other institutions offering similar opportunities is also a great threat as some students and researchers are likely to be attracted to them.
Lack of funding: Currently there is insufficient funding to the university which is likely to derail the process of carrying out research in the university.
3. Project Charter
4. Consider all the main stakeholders involved in this project and propose stakeholder identification and analysis table.
a. In the table below, stakeholders are to to fill the table below and indicate their capabilities.
b. Once the table has been completed, it is then analysed and the right stakeholders identified.
NB: The table below is to be handfilled by the stakeholders and then taken back to the project team for analysis and subsequent identification of the best stakeholder.
Project Justification:
Research Publications Information System (RIS) is a very strong tool for managing the publications of research materials. Oz University being a research oriented university requires an elaborate system to handle the publications thus pushing for the implementation of the project. (Fleming, 2006)
Product Characteristics and Requirements:
a) Characteristics
i. Research Publications management System
ii. Stores publications information in the database
iii. Uses a java platform for its operation
b) Requirements
i. Research publications database
ii. Website: Allows for accessing the System from any location in the world.
iii. Software: For forming the defined operations of the system
iv. Hardware: Forms the interface between the operator and the software.
Summary of Project Deliverables
Project management-related deliverables: business case, charter, team contract, scope statement, WBS, schedule, cost baseline, status reports, final project presentation, final project report, lessons-learned report, and any other documents required to manage the project.
Product-related deliverables: research reports, design documents, software code, hardware, etc.
1. Research reports: Once the project is complete, a detailed report is then prepared that shows all the stages involved in the project design.
2. Each stage of the project is tested to ensure that is in line with the project specifications and requirements stated on the onset.
3. The time frame/limit for each section is well taken into consideration to ensure that the six months time limit is met.
Project Success Criteria:
A project can be said to be successful if it is completed within time and within budget. A successful project is also one that meets most if not all of the specifications defined during the requirements stage. The project is divided into several sections. Each section has a limit interms of time and cost. This is determined during the project termination phase. At this stage, testing of the project is done and if the performance meets the requirements stated, then the project can be said to have been successful. (Lewis, 2006)
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