data integration

Post 9/11 IT database project has big flaws

Judi Hasson — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:01:31 -0400

Sophisticated computerized databases were cited by the Bush Administration as a key element in keeping track of potential terrorist plotters and keeping them out of the country. But now, a congressional subcommittee says a $500 million IT project intended to "connect the dots" on terrorists and help prevent another 9/11 is a failure, and cannot even handle basic Boolean search terms.

"The end result is a current system used to identify terrorist threats that has been crippled by technical flaws and a new system that, if actually deployed, will leave our country more vulnerable than the existing, yet flawed system in operation today," wrote Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), chairman of the House Science and Technology subcommittee on investigations and oversight.

The subcommittee looked at the data integration project called Railhead that was supposed to combine and upgrade existing databases. The project, said Miller, is suffering from delays, cost overruns and big technical glitches. Software tested by the Hewlett-Packard Quality Center found that it "passed 148 tasks, but did not complete 26 others and failed 42. The National Counterterrorism Center said Miller's assertions are "inconsistent with the facts."

For more: on these database flaws:
- see this CSOonline.com article

IBM goes to the mat for data management

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:59:58 -0400

It was only a matter of time before IBM came up with a data integration tool that allows customers to manage all data from a single point. IBM's Master Data Management Server, currently in beta, is expected to be available in early 2008. And Big Blue has also released new products to emphasize its commitment to information management. That includes version 8.4 of its Enterprise Content Management product and the IBM Data Studio and Master Data Management Service. The Data Studio is a free, Eclipse-based tool that manages data lifecycles. It will be available for download at the end of this month.

For more on IBM data management:
- see this BPM Today article

ALSO NOTED: Poor time management; The tech skills crisis;

Sun, 13 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

> Managing poor time managers on your staff. Blog

> Offshoring, ageism and image blamed for tech skills crisis. Article

> CIO and CSO: fox watching the henhouse? Article

> Study: More than 80 percent of companies plan to expand their data centers. Press release

> IBM announces a "Big Green" initiative. Article

> Addressing business initiatives with end-to-end data integration platforms. Webcast

And Finally… The IT manager's freak-out point. Article

ALSO NOTED: Companies are over-relying on manual processes; Make sure your Linux systems are ready for DST

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:01:38 -0500

> Companies still relying on manual processes for data integration need to change--fast. Article

> Making sure your Linux systems are ready for the new Daylight Savings Time. Article

> Tech workers feeling positive about their jobs. Article

> New Cisco communications tools will integrate office networks with mobile handsets. Article

> Intel introduces an RFID chip. Article

And finally…One anonymous user's nightmarish story about application development from hell. Article

Making EDI work requires lots of planning

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:01:36 -0400

If your organization has stumbled and failed at electronic data integration (EDI), don't feel too bad as it's an technology effort that clearly isn't easy as it's a complex effort on the technology side. Integrating your business with supply-chain partners and sharing is a collaborative effort that requires partners to do as much work as you're doing, and getting that accomplished isn't a quick task. To make it successful, you have to make sure your suppliers and partners gain as much benefit as your organization in the effort, otherwise you're not going to gain the potential efficiency that EDI can provide. The other important aspect is deciding how much EDI to do--how many partners to hook up with and which ones are a necessity and which ones aren't in terms of data exchange and systems integration.

For more on making EDI a reality:
- read this article at CIO Insight

Good BPO tied to data quality

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 19:01:36 -0500

A key element to successful business-process outsourcing (BPO) is ensuring that you have a network that can handle the necessary data requirements, secured access to the mission-critical data that may come into play, and excellent data integration with the third-party's systems. Once the foundation of a data-sourcing system has been built, it's time to make sure the actual data is clean and viable for the BPO effort. Then it's time to check that the data sharing and transfer process is slick and easy.

For more on making BPO successful:
- read this article at CIO Today