| Challenge: | To advance the U.S. Army's knowledge management capability through secure Intranet applications. |
|---|---|
| Solution: | CherryRoad Technologies helped to develop the Army's first Intranet portal, Web-enabled a knowledge management application to make it flexible and user friendly, and designed a Web-enabled data warehouse to link disparate legacy systems. |
| Features: | CherryRoad Technologies participated in the U.S. Army's "Army Knowledge Online" program in three areas: the Army Portal, the Staff Officer's Knowledge Tool, and the Enterprise Application Integration/Data Sharing Initiative. |
| Benefits: | Officers and soldiers can work more effectively. By increasing their ability to share knowledge, users can focus on analyzing information, rather than merely collecting it. This results in better-informed, higher quality decision making. |
Few organizations in the world are as large and complex as the U.S. Army. And none have a higher need for advanced knowledge management, collaboration and secure data sharing capability. That's what is behind the drive to establish Army Knowledge Online. This key initiative is designed to transform the U.S. Army into a true knowledge-based organization. As a leading e-Services provider, CherryRoad has forged a strategic partnership with the Office of Information Technology Services (OITS), the department responsible for the Army Knowledge Online program. OITS's mission is to provide enterprise knowledge management support for the Army. This work spans collaborative work sites, data sharing, e-mail, Internet and Intranet sites. CherryRoad has assisted OITS in developing the Army Knowledge Online program in three critical areas:
People move often in the Army. And now, instead of having a different e-mail address hosted by each installation, soldiers can keep the same secure e-mail address no matter where they're stationed. Incorporating Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, CherryRoad Technologies devised a global e-mail address solution as part of a larger effort to create a powerful information portal for authorized Army and DA Civilian personnel. The portal reached the one-million user mark in May 2002.
The Army portal, located at www.us.army.mil, provides active duty service members, the Army National Guard, the Army Reserves, DA civilians, Army retirees and dependents with information and services. Users can access Army forms and regulations, data on installations, change-of-station information and general Army news.
The Staff Officer's Knowledge Tool, a secure knowledge management solution, is a key feature of the Army portal. Previously hard-coded as a mainframe application, CherryRoad redesigned the system using Lotus Notes software. Now, instead of having to hire programmers to make any change, Army personnel can use the template-based format CherryRoad designed to control the way the system looks and functions. Just as important, by web-enabling the application, CherryRoad was able to make it more user friendly and far more cost-effective to operate.
Authorized users can access the Staff Officer's Knowledge Tool to review documents in the knowledge base. New documents can be created collaboratively. 128-bit security protects information integrity. Overall, the Staff Officer's Knowledge Tool contributes strategic value to the Army Knowledge Online initiative. As Admiral Harold W. Gelman, Jr. of the U.S. Joint Forces Command says, "You will be judged here by how well 'your information' was utilized by the organization, not by your cleverness in obtaining it."
It's no secret that the U.S. Army has built up massive amounts of computerized information over the years. Accessing it efficiently, however, is a major challenge. And replacing these legacy systems across the enterprise, involving installations all over the world, would be prohibitively expensive. That's why the Army decided to implement an enterprise application integration/data sharing solution, or data warehouse. And that's where CherryRoad came in.
CherryRoad used Oracle 8i database software and the Viador web interface to design a web-enabled data warehouse that links the data in multiple legacy system files. Now instead of waiting weeks for answers, users can create sophisticated queries and get detailed answers with fast response. Testing was conducted in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management. Going forward, a key function for the Enterprise Application Integration/Data Sharing Initiative will be to generate financial reports. Users will be able to compare spending to appropriations, so that future budgeting can be more precise. And that means time and money saved.
CherryRoad Technologies brings unique advantages to every engagement. We not only have unsurpassed technical experience in all aspects of e-Business development and planning, managing and implementing complex software applications for major business and government clients, we also have a practical, proven approach to problem solving matched with a commitment to open communication with our customers. This helps our relationships grow. OITS continues to involve us in applying leading-edge technologies to the Army Knowledge Online initiative.
We are practical, knowledgeable, experienced professionals with a passion for delivering answers that work. We listen. We partner with you. And we help fast-moving organizations like yours acquire the software and skills they need to propel their operations to new heights.