A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk UKOLN is supported by: IT Services - Help or Hindrance to National IT Development Programmes? Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath Co-author: Paul Child Institute of Education University of London

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Contents Historical Context JISC IT Development Programmes RDN-Include: Facing The SysAdmin Barrier Artworld: Being Innovative and Addressing Deployment Challenges QA Focus Framework For Service Deployment Challenges Of Internet Technologies Need For Shared Understanding Conclusions

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 How Times Have Changed IT Strategy s IT Skills Training Lotus / Excel WordPerfect / Word User Groups, Committees Mainframe / Unix PC / Mac Centralised / Distributed Users Research / Teaching IT Strategy Today Users IT applications Free software Home use Hotmail accounts, MSN IDs User Groups, Committees Major funding decisions Responding to autonomy Security Responding to Internet environment Interoperability, standards, preservation Open source Broadband Significant nos. of national IT programmes Limited nos. of national IT programmes

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 JISC IT Development Programmes JISC: Strategy based on development of Information Environment (seamless access to scholarly resources) Funds several development programmes to help implement strategy Increasing need to ensure project deliverables can be deployed into a service environment QA Focus: Funded by JISC to develop QA framework Helps ensure deliverables are functional, widely accessible, interoperable and can be deployed into service with minimum of difficulties Provided from by UKOLN and AHDS Background

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Addressing SysAdmin Barrier RDN (Resource Discovery Network): JISC service which provides access to quality Internet resources RDN-Include: Software to allow access to RDN services to be embedded within institutional Web Requires institution to install local CGI software The Challenge: SysAdmin reluctance to install CGI software (possible issues of security, performance, …) Potential RDN-Include users may wish to evaluate software before committing to it Case Study 1

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 Addressing SysAdmin Barrier The Solution: RDNi-lite developed A JavaScript equivalent to the CGI script Allows HTML authors to provide interface to RDN resources within institutional Web site If felt successful, can liaise with SysAdmin over CGI implementation The Lessons: Deployment barriers needed to be considered during software development You can’t just assume service providers will deploy your software There may be simple technical solutions you can deploy Case Study 1

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 Artworld Case Study (1) Artworld: JISC-funded project Sought to make use of emerging open standards (e.g. SVG) and innovative open source environment (Cocoon) The Challenge: Potential service providers: “We’re a Perl and MySQL house – we’ve never heard of Cocoon” How to ensure the project deliverables can be deployed into service Case Study 2

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 Artworld Case Study (2) The solutions: Discussions with other projects Engage with service providers Share their experiences:  Case study published  VINE article about Cocoon Project deliverables successfully deployed into service Such examples helped to identify key issues which need to be addressed. Case Study 2

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 QA Focus Framework QA Focus used lessons from such case studies Developed service deployment tips: Document your technical architecture Communicate with potential service providers at early stage Deviations from accepted standards and best practices should be documented Unusual or innovative aspects should be documented. Developers should gain an understanding of potential barriers Developers should be encouraged to share experiences with others (e.g. case studies ) … QA Focus Framework

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 Recommendations For Funders Funding bodies can support this process e.g. requirement for projects to: Identify potential barriers to the effective deployment into service of the project deliverables Describe approaches which will be taken to ensure that these barriers can be addressed Identify potential hosts of the project deliverables Describe the approaches which will be taken to develop effective communication channels with potential hosts. QA Focus Framework

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 Challenges Of The Internet JISC’s development programmes provide: Infrastructure for communications Advice on best practices Management framework Internet technologies are more anarchic: Often free or open source No central roadmap Sustainability may be uncertain But may also prove to be a winner (cf the Web) How can institutions effectively exploit such new technologies bearing in mind limited resources, potential dangers, etc? Application To Internet

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 Skype – Ban Or Promote? Skype is a very popular VoIP Internet telephony application: Free Skype-Skype calls & conference calls Cheap calls to landlines & mobiles Accompanying instant messaging & chat rooms Benefits to institution: Cost savings Support for remote users, conference attendees, … Accessibility benefits Additional functionality: e.g. use in interviews, recording, Podcasts, … Application To Internet

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 Skype – Ban Or Promote? But some organisations have banned Skype: Licence conditions – additional software could be installed Owner – links with KaZaA Proprietary nature It’s a peer-to-peer application & P2P apps are often used for downloading copyrighted files It allows third parties to use institution’s bandwidth It circumvents network administration management tools Application To Internet

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 Skype – Ban Or Promote? Are these clinching arguments? Licence conditions (additional software could be installed): But this hasn’t happened (and are the conditions still the same) Owner (links with KaZaA): Inappropriate argument for banning Proprietary nature: True, but do we ban MS? P2P apps are often used for downloading copyrighted files: Don’t be silly It allows third parties to use institution’s bandwidth: Is use significant? Don’t many (valid) P2P apps do this? It circumvents network administration management tools: Is a clinching argument? Probably no universal answer – but a need for dialogue Application To Internet

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Engaging With Communities UCISA/UKOLN Collaborative Technologies Workshop, Nov 2004 Case studies on use of Blogs, IM, etc to support teaching & learning & research Sought to address deployment barriers:  Technical  Organisational  Cultural Similar issues addressed at Alt / JISC InfoNET event on “IT Won’t Work Here!” e.g. debate on 'Joining up learning across organisations is for the benefit of the institutions / government and not the learner'” Need For Dialogue

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 Shared Understanding Service Providers need to understand: E-Learning is not word processing HE will seek to innovate Some level of risk may be acceptable AUPs are not cast in stone (need for an Acceptable Use Policy Process - AUPP) IT developers need to understand: Innovation should fulfil a need Security, privacy, etc. issues do need to be addressed Support issues are important Innovation may not take off Need For Dialogue

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 17 Formalise Process For Dialogue Concern: Dangers that dialogue does not happen Solution Proposal that evidence of approaches to effective service deployment be provided in project submissions Need For Dialogue Describe the potential service providers of project deliverables. Describe the approach your project will take to ensure that the project deliverables can be deployed successfully into service. Such data can help funders' planning processes

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 18 Conclusions To conclude: There is a need to address service deployment barriers for development programmes Case studies can help share best practices More formal programme requirements may be appropriate Internet technologies provide additional challenges Effective communications is essential Opportunity for funding bodies to support better communications through: Format for project proposals Hosting events Conclusions

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 19 Questions Questions are welcome