JAVA in Administration JAVA in Administration Special Interest GroupSpecial Interest Group

Ric Dugger, Assistant DirectorRic Dugger, Assistant Director

Administrative Information SystemsAdministrative Information Systems

The Florida State UniversityThe Florida State University

rdugger@admin.fsu.edurdugger@admin.fsu.edu

Technology for Building up Higher EducationTechnology for Building up Higher Education

Why are we here today?Why are we here today?

• discuss JAVA a little

• discuss how some higher education folks believe we can obtain critical mass in the effective use of JAVA technologies for our mutual gain

• discuss what can be gained by you

• discuss how to become a part

What is JAVA anyway?What is JAVA anyway?

• platform-independent programming language

• based on object-oriented applications design

• reusable and invokeable module (objects) architecture

• each object knows the process it performs, the data required and where to get it, and what to pass back when done

What is JAVA good for? What is JAVA good for? -continued-continued

• building web services that extend current applications at FSU

• building new web services for:• students,• student support services,• academic administration and,• business administration

What is the JA-SIG?What is the JA-SIG?• JAVA in Administration - Special

Interest Group

• comprises over 50 educational institutions and companies

• mission - to increase the flow of information between educational institutions and companies involved in the development of administrative applications using Java technology

What are JA-SIG’s Goals?What are JA-SIG’s Goals?

• Nurture communication of best practices, new technologies, and innovative methodologies and projects related to Java

• Increase peer review, collaboration, and group discussion related to institution-developed Java administrative applications

• Broaden Java technology cross-fertilization between firms and schools on both a functional and geographic basis

What does it take to start using What does it take to start using JAVA?JAVA?

• R and D (play) with it for a while

• some folks willing to explore and risk change

• leaders willing to push for technology change in the face of other demands

What does it take to start using What does it take to start using JAVA?JAVA? -continued -continued

• investment in processing power plus a willingness to experiment with tools and technique or buy talent or buy guidance

• a non-time critical, low visibility application to build for a progressive “Executive of Interest”

What phases we encounteredWhat phases we encountered in starting to use JAVA? in starting to use JAVA?

• R and D - tools, techniques, “read and do!”

• Experiment with server and communication approaches

• demo and redo, + introductory level training

• show off results, sell staff, expand training

• demand for products begins to rise

What phases we encounteredWhat phases we encountered to start using JAVA? to start using JAVA? -continued -continued

• institutionalization of process, technique, standards, training (continuing effort)

• establish Production Environment and sound business control processes (effort in process)

What can be gained by sharing What can be gained by sharing and what does JA-SIG provide?and what does JA-SIG provide?

• Faster start up because you do not have to start with a BLANK sheet of paper

• friends in the business

• examples and structure to your process

• REAL “functional” modules and systems that fit Higher Education needs

• STUFF LIKE -------

TOOLSTOOLS• information on who uses what and why

• advise on what to avoid

• pointers to demo and trial locations

• white papers

• shared experiences for problem issues

• code and documentation

• systems

• free software tools - including a PORTAL

TechniquesTechniques

• how to approach issues

• what to do with the HARD points

• design and model - Architect

• code examples

• code, code, code

• quality assessment and control processes

• business issues

Organize for successOrganize for success

• building staff

• policy

• procedure

• documentation

• work management

• project stages

• roles

• functions

• services

• leverage others (peers and vendors)

• development environment

Train and MentorTrain and Mentor

• friends in the business• self-help from web based information center• networking with other organizations and

vendors• shared training• special conference

How do we maintain the current, How do we maintain the current, and move to the new?and move to the new?

• create a shared vision with your customer

• build teams of:– business matter experts

– data and process experts

– technology experts

– database experts

• work to avoid the “old vs. new’ or “us vs. them” attitude - it only builds walls

• define what is needed to avoid failure

• plan projects in 60-90 day deliverables

How can JA-SIG Help You?How can JA-SIG Help You?

• encouragement

• advise

• examples

• code

• policy

• procedure

• tools

• support

What more can we sayJA-SIG

is based on a win win approach - believing that if more institutions are doing

better with what we have in commonthen we will all do better

What does JA-SIG cost and What does JA-SIG cost and who makes moneywho makes money

• Not much money to be made off you unless you need specific services or training that fit your desires and you choose to move faster than slower - then buy that expertise and guidance as spoken about earlier

• Specific tools will be required but here you may “experience” before you buy

So you give,So you give, you take, you trade, you sell! you take, you trade, you sell!

• Member institutions provide project results, papers, policy and procedure, etc.

• many do so freely

• some must trade for items of “equal” value

• some must sell, based on institutional or state governing rules, you set the value

• YOU decide how your contributions are shared

• no one is required to provide - to be able to participation

Where do I learn more?Where do I learn more?• only if you want to make progress with

JAVA technology - otherwise do not waste any time

• JA-SIG web page - http://www.ja-sig.org/

• JA-SIG summer conference - – http://www.ja-sig.org/events/jul00/

• Chronicle of Higher Education– http://www.chronicle.com/free/

2000/05/2000050501t.htm

How do I join?How do I join?

http://www.ja-sig.org/

Questions ?Questions ?

This presentation will be placed on http://www.ais.fsu.edu/ next week.

Ric Dugger, Assistant Director

Administrative Information SystemsThe Florida State University

rdugger@admin.fsu.edu