Unified Organisational System
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Unified Organisational System
Organic Design aims to create create the most outstanding software system in the sustainability space. By using an approach that leverages open standards and avoids vendor or technology-lock-in, we hope to achieve technology independence in order to maximise flexibility and make use of the latest emerging standards.
We are creating a unified organisational system which we will use to maintain a high-level overview of the entire operations of any organisation, allowing peers to respond to developments with unprecedented effectiveness. This system allows an integrated view and management of all IT software, data and hardware resources. Using an holistic view of the data and resources of the organisation, members will be able to bridge the gap between IT and application development and organisational development, creating software applications that precisely mirror the organisational structure and support operations.
However, the concept that holds it all together is relatively simple. An Organic Ontology is the entry point to a series of portals, which in turn are entry points to various kinds of structured data the organisation uses. This structure can be held within MediaWiki as demonstrated on our demo wiki. However, we are in the process of moving the entire structure to the latest XMPP-based technology.
Features
It goes without saying that a unified organisational system will incorporate standard communications protocols such as real-time chat, email, document management, website content management and file management, with integrated revision control and permissions in a unified management interface. This is in keeping with promoting a collaborative, “Web 2.0” organisational culture which is now a phenomenon sweeping the high-tech industry, and moving toward the structured web, “Web 3.0”.
In addition to the functions above, the unified system integrates IT roles traditionally associated with “groupware” solutions, such as task and project management, email, contact management and scheduling within one management interface. Extending this approach further, the system allows centralised management of server and workstation clusters, to easily maintain standardised software configuration across multiple branches or offices, manage distributed file systems or server farms as required. This implies targeted remote support and troubleshooting, training and monitoring capabilities.
Benefits
The implications for sustainability are wide-ranging. Integrating systems allows IT investments to be leveraged to optimal effect. Meetings and training sessions can be held remotely, avoiding travel time, expense and CO2 output. Valuable time spent developing procedures, applications and systems can be leveraged across IT systems throughout multiple organisations, resulting in maximisation of shared knowledge.
Horizontal integration has been discussed, that is, relating a multitude of software applications to each other via an holistic navigation structure that defines the organisation. The other form of integration is between "personal", "group" and "global" organisation, allowing users to integrate personal goals, vision and projects with organisational objectives. We believe this will lead to the organic bottom-up formation of organisations. In turn, the integration of organisation and global aspects will facilitate bottom-up formation of standards and inter-organisational projects, fostering bottom-up government. We believe information sharing will allow organisations using the unified organisational system to collaboratively respond to market requirements.
Another aspect we will incorporate in the organisational system is the definition of business rules and processes, which allows us to not only capture the knowledge of our members and streamline policy development, but also to anticipate market trends. When managing multiple channels to market, it will allow us to maintain the organisational structures required in the day-to-day running of these channels in the form of active, evolving templates, ready to be set up and customised within days. The infrastructure management capabilities of our unified organisational system give us that capability.
By capturing information, customer questions and feedback, product data and customer follow-up as part of what we do, we will be creating an ever-evolving database of business intelligence, which will allow us to determine which products and solutions are the best, associate and verify appropriate certification standards, adapt to our customers' needs.
By being aware of the mistakes of the "big players" in setting up proprietary, complicated and expensive systems, OrganicDesign is dedicated to creating a sustainable corporate business 'system' based on open standards which is simple, effective and fulfils the above requirements.
Funding Requirements
Our approach to funding our efforts is outlined here: Funding
Phase One
Bringing the Unified Organisational System concept up to full functionality, including user interface improvements, incorporating "Google Wave", the emerging standard in real-time collaboration set to replace email, real-time chat and wikis. Incorporating current functionality with the new interface, creating data import/export mechanisms. Ca. 50k for four months of full-time work for two developers (programming, content) with sub-contracting to be done by designer/UI specialist and further developers as required.
Phase Two
Priorities to be determined, possibly CRM and inventory management. Creating specifications and developing functionality. A range of smaller projects, 5-20k per application, along with miscellaneous improvements and customisations as required by clients.
