ICS Windows NTEU Briefing June 24, 2011

History ICS provides electronic case processing for all field revenue officers, managers and support staff. ICS began piloting computer software applications in 1993 and was successfully deployed nationwide to SB/SE Collection employees between 1995 and 2000.

Background ICS was written for the UNIX operating system. The IRS standard for end-user computers is a uniform configuration of the Windows operating system called the Common Operating Environment (COE). Although users access ICS using COE computers, ICS itself was not consistent with our COE architecture. In order to allow ICS to operate within the COE environment, special software called POSIX was used.

ICS Windows Benefits Converting ICS from the UNIX environment to a Windows application:  Improved system performance by eliminating the POSIX software, which was very slow,  Improved ICS system navigation  Positioned ICS for future enhancements by allowing improved data sharing with other IRS applications, and  Standardized SB/SE Collection equipment needs with other IRS business units.

Improved Navigation Eliminate text- and menu-based user interface, which was inefficient and cumbersome, Implement a graphical user interface (GUI) that is consistent with standard Windows applications, Enable the use of a mouse, trackball, or touchpad, Allow users to work on more than one task at a time by opening multiple task windows, Allow users to access multiple cases concurrently, and Conform with other commonly used Windows software.

Pilot September 29, 2008 to October 31, 2008 Revenue Officer group 2600, Washington, DC Two Revenue Officers from each Area Two ICS/Entity Quality Analysts (IQA)

Training Revenue Officers received 20 hours of classroom training Managers received 24 hours of classroom training IQAs received 24 hours of classroom training Others received 4 hours online training