Steps

Information is one of the most valuable assets of any business or organisation, whether small or large.  As the amount of information increases, more time is spent searching and less time is dedicated to putting that information to work.  Managing such resources effectively and efficiently so they can be readily stored on computers and then searched, retrieved, analysed, published, distributed and reused in different ways can pose significant challenges.
 
At Step Systems, we work with clients to find and implement solutions for managing informational resources in systematic and beneficial ways.  The information may be to do with, for example .... people, agriculture, production, marketing, publications, quality systems, training materials .... or to other kinds of informational asset.  Once completed, users can control and process the organisation's informational resources to make the right data available at the right time to the right people.
 

Step 1.

After scoping and deciding on requirements for the database system, the first step we undertake is to build a comprehensive Information Map. This provides a pictorial method to ‘lay out and visualise’ the informational requirements for the system.

Example of an ‘Information Map’ for a Farmer Group Database Showing Entities, Metadata and Relationships
 

Step 2.

From this, the methods for authoring, categorising, storing, retrieving, using content and access control are decided upon.
 

Step 3.

Once these stages are complete, we customise the Step Tools we have already developed (Step Editor, Step Publisher and Step Viewer) and create a working prototype system.
 

Step 4.

We install the system and provide user training. During the period that follows, data is entered by the client and the system is used on a trial basis.
 

Step 5.

From the feedback gained, we complete refinements and finalise the solution.
 

We provide training and technical support, and supply an User e-Guide as part of the overall package.