By integration by differentiation.(INFORMS ONLINE)(Column)

In my August 2007 column, I wrote about the growing expectations of, but also growing, complexity at INFORMS Online (IoL). I focus on a more tangible issue here: integration. Integration is an IT consulting buzzword in industry and usually vacuous, so I first explain what I mean by it. Then I discuss how to achieve it in a way that is not far from how we operate today, at least informally.

The Need for Integration

Any official Web site of a large organization like INFORMS links stakeholders--users, members, committee members, subdivision chairs, etc.--to information through two processes: (1) information entry and maintenance, and (2) information display. Authorized personnel may enter information into an INFORMS (or IoL) database and then the technology displays the information as required by (authorized) users.

To make this happen smoothly, we need to know who is authorized to enter the information, who actually "owns" the information, who designs the form (e.g., Web page) in which this information is displayed and who can see it. As information grows, complexity enters into the picture: multiple databases with overlapping information, multiple technologies to access and display the information in these databases, multiple people with overlapping and sometimes unclear roles as regards access and control.

Integration of Technology

Over time, technology for the Web has changed rapidly. IoL has adopted new technologies over time because of robustness, popularity or simplicity. However, it is not always easy to change existing features, so usually only new features are built with the new technology. Many technologies coexist, and eventually getting information in or out using these diverse technologies becomes very costly or difficult.

Some time ago, IoL standardized on MySQL/PhP. However, many other technologies including WAIS, Python or flat files are still in use. This year, we are replacing them with MySQL/PhP. This work is almost complete now and by the time the October issue appears, the following may be online: