Quality Assurance is a review process which is performed in each phase of a project. The reviews take place at the front-end and at key check points and deliverables to verify that quality is built into each step of the development project.

Phase 1 - Information Planning
The purpose of the Information Planning Phase is to produce the master plan for information systems. This master plan serves as a framework that ensures all system modules will work together in an integrated manner, and also gives management an opportunity to view the global cost/benefit contribution of information technology. The plan will define system requirements and priorities for software selection and implementation.

Define Objectives and Performance Measures

• What resources will be required?
• What is the format of the deliverables?

Identify Information Requirements

• What are overall business objectives?
• What business objectives should be improved upon?
• What are each company's unique requirements with respect to each system area?
• Are there any short term improvements that can be made?
• Can existing system be used more efficiently?
• What are information requirements of each organizational area?

Document Conceptual Design

• What are the basic functional elements of the new integrated accounting system that is required?
• Who are the users?
• What level of integration is required for each application?
• What are the benefits of each application area?

Develop Software Strategy

• What are software alternatives?
• Which, if any, current systems should be retained?
• How flexible are requirements to fit a packaged solution?
• What would impact be to existing hardware?

Develop Hardware Strategy

• What are the viable alternatives?
• Which best fits current and future needs?
• What are the economics?
• Pros and Cons?

Develop MIS Strategy

• What are the necessary skills and personnel requirements to implement and maintain the new system?

Management Review and Approval

• Is there a consensus?
• Is there a commitment?
• Does it make sense to proceed with the selection and implementation of the new system?

Phase 2 - System Selection
The purpose of Phase 2 - System Selection is to use the system requirements and priorities for software selection that were generated in phase 1 to determine which of the many commercially available software packages will best meet the current and future requirements of the system.

This process involves identification of available packages; screening through evaluation of package functionality, vendors, and costs; and recommendation of the software package that best meets the client's needs. Additionally, any customization necessary to the selected package is identified and defined at this stage.

Document Baseline Requirements

• What are the processing functions and reporting features for each area of the new system?
• What are the baseline technical requirements?
• What requirements are "got-to-have"; "nice-to-have"?

Evaluate Software Offerings

• Which software offerings are chosen for close reviews?
• How do the candidates compare to the baseline?
• What's the impression of the vendor? future support?
• What do references say?

Evaluate Hardware Offerings

• How do candidates compare to the baseline?
• What do references say?

Select Software

• Which candidate is the best fit?
• What are the pros and cons?
• What package shall we select?

Select Hardware

• Which candidate is the best fit?
• What are the pros and cons?
• What package shall we select?

Define Plant Implementation Priorities

• What organizations will be first to implement new system?
• How shall training be done?
• What resources do we need for implementation?

Phase 3 - Implementation
The purpose of Phase 3 - Implementation is to ensure that the applications designed and selected in Phase 2 are implemented in an efficient, timely, and cost-effective manner. In this phase, the system design is finalized, user procedures are documented, users are trained, hardware and software are installed and tested, modifications for additional features are implemented, and existing procedures/systems are phased out. A final step in this phase is to measure the achievement of efficiency improvements.

Finalize New System Design

• Detailed modification specifications
• Identify key policy issues and new procedures related to the new system
• Summarize staffing and organization changes

Conduct Pilot Processing

• How long and to what extent do we pilot test?
• Project team personnel are training

User Procedure Development And Training

• Develop User Procedures
• Prepare Training Material

Implement Modifications (Customization)

• Customization of report formats

Conversion Planning And Preparation

• Conversion Procedure/Programs to build new system files

• Document control points and procedures to ensure the integrity of converted data

Conversion

• Convert all data
• Begin new system processing

Post-Conversion Follow-Up

• Is the system functioning properly?
• Do the users have any questions or concerns?
• Are the expected benefits being achieved?

Why Netmation?
We feel that it is important to recognize that neither the business environment nor technology are stagnant. This approach recognizes these environmental concerns by establishing the information planning process as an on-going part of business planning.

Netmation is a leader in the areas of information systems planning, design and development, equipment selection, feasibility study, and performance evaluation. The planning, design, and implementation of information systems account for a substantial portion of our consulting engagements. The engagements have addressed systems in a variety of areas, including:

• Development of nationwide networks
• Large-scale management information systems
• Integrated financial information reporting systems
• Operational management and control systems
• Organizational and personnel systems
• Accounting, cost, and budgeting systems

Netmation includes specialists in such areas as business and operational consulting, information systems consulting, organization and personnel consulting, and financial management consulting. Using the information systems within our firm, this full range of consulting skills--backed by solid field experience- -can be assigned as needed to client engagements. Our information systems consulting practice is composed of highly trained data systems specialists. The resources of this group provide support in all areas of computer technology including:

• Minicomputer and microcomputer technology
• Mainframe technology
• Information systems planning
• Data Security
• Telecommunications
• Office automation/word processing
• Data base design and management
• Real-time processing
• Timesharing
• Hardware/software analysis and evaluation
• Management information systems
• Operation systems
• Diverse programming languages
• Project management