AT LAST net:

1.1 Introduction

AT LAST net is the official Intranet site. The main role of the site is to allow employees to get easy access to information that affects them the most. Activities carried out at AT LAST, are automated through the site and is either implemented or planned for deployment to the ever-growing Intranet site.

1.2 Features

The site mainly constitutes: -

• Human Resource Management System
  
• Project Management System
  
• Document Versioning and Control of the documents generated in AT LAST
  
• Discussion Forums
  
• Knowledge Management System
• Intranet and Internet search
  

a. Content Management:

The architecture was primarily designed not only to scale in terms of the load it can handle, but also for the content that is constantly being developed, existing being modified and newer module being integrated to the site. All this content being updated and newer areas being created within the web site needs

• Easy to manage interface
  
• Effective security
  
• Retrieval system for modification and re-deployment with approvals

b. Search:

Each part of the site is uniquely designed for identifying a category. This information is tagged before deployment. Based on the tag a content, store for the particular category is created. If category already exists or the content store of that particular category already exists then the relevant content is routed to the content store available on the site. The tagged content or the properties from the content is used as keywords by the search system to be cataloged with appropriate description.

The tagged and indexed information is used for dynamically creating pages for the appropriate category or for a search result.

Various Stages of Content development, approval and deployment:

• The content is developed by the user having role 'Author'
  
• The content is read and remarked by the user having role 'Reader'
  
• The content is approved and deployed through the stager by the user having the role 'Approver'

The user having role called 'Co-coordinator' maintains the entire site. This role is similar to the group Administrators found in Windows 2000.

c. Versioning and Control of documents

Documents within AT LAST have to go through various stages of approval before in can be released for use internally or given to the client before being produced to the client. AT LAST uses Sharepoint Portal service to author and approve the documents generated

d. Messaging and Collaboration

Email has become an integral part of the organization, AT LAST uses Microsoft Exchange 2000 services for internal, external emailing and collaboration.

e. Project Systems

AT LAST has strong commitment towards getting projects completed on time; to achieve this AT LAST uses MS Project Central and MS Project for assigning activities and tracking project slippage.

1.3 Development Strategy adopted:

• The first phase of the project was to develop a Transaction Processing System (TPS) for automating the tasks carried out at AT LAST.
  
• The second phase was to develop a workflow system.
  
• The third phase is currently to develop a knowledge management system.

1.4 Tools and Technologies adopted:

OS

• Windows 2000 Advanced Server

Services

• Sharepoint Portal Server 2000
  
• Content Management Server 2001
  
• SQL Server 2000
  
• Exchange Server 2000
  
• Project Central
  
• IIS 5.0 Web Service
  
• ADS

Technologies

• XML
  
• ASP
  
• Dashboard

1.5 Effort/Duration Estimate

• Duration Estimate = 9 calendar months
  
• Effort Estimate = 2574 man-days
  
• Total Resources Required: 20