Electronic Information Modernization, Migration, Integration, Maintenance and Standardization Plan 

Originally Finalized on December 20, 2006

Last Revised:  May 23, 2012 4:50 PM

Situation: 

For some 20 years Vibrant Life has had only one person, Karl Loren, creating and administering its computer and electronic information system.  This system has continued to work well, and as it was designed, but over these years new and more modern software and hardware have been developed.  This old system has now become so antiquated that there is no other person who can conveniently take over from Karl to improve or repair the existing system.  In any event, the old system is not worth retaining in the light of what is more modern stuff is now available.

In addition to modernizing what we have already been using, the new Plan for the Electronic Information System includes new products and services we can offer from the enhanced web structure, including, for instance, eBooks and eCourses.

I am establishing a "plan" to "modernize, migrate, integrate, maintain and standardize the electronic information system for Vibrant Life.  I have written that plan and it starts with this page.  That plan includes the words "Modernization, Migration, Integration, Maintenance and Standardization" each of which is defined below.  Each of the definitions, below, is linked to a separate page with a repeat of the short definition on THIS page, and then a more detailed definition below the short definition.  Below the more detailed definition on those pages are a series of sources of web pages where that one word (i.e., "Migration") was used in some context.  These web page sources are NOT part of my definitions for these words, but the full definitions draw from some of these sources.  Sources not used to provide quotes for the full definition are, nonetheless included to show what web sources, and uses of the word, were NOT used within the full definition.

The productivity improvements that should come from implementation of this plan will be enormous.

In comments to the Securities Industry Association Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan described the run of productivity growth as "startlingly large." Mr. Greenspan said that while some of the factors that have driven productivity higher probably were temporary, some were likely related to long-term changes in the economy that would continue to bolster productivity in the future.  (source)

This plan is within a larger framework called an "Admin Scale" which includes the Goal and Purposes for Vibrant Life.

This PLAN is then divided into PROGRAMS.  Some of the programs are further divided into Projects.  Some Projects are further divided into one or more of several different types of Targets.  Finally, some of these elements of the PLAN may also contain Orders.  The specific words used in this description of a Plan are those developed by Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. These words, "Programs, Projects, Targets, Orders" have their own definitions and explanations in various writings by Mr. Hubbard.  All of these Programs, and other elements make up something called an "Admin Scale" presented HERE.

Two Vibrant Life staff members, Steve Archibald and Mark Warkentin, are expected to implement this plan, under the direction of Karl Loren.  When this web was started the initial thought was to limit the subject to the Plan for the Electronic Information System.  However, as various items were published it became apparent that virtually all of the Vibrant Life "Admin Scale" should be included here and that, therefore, includes "Plans" that relate to Vibrant Life but NOT to the Electronic Information System.

Both Mark and Steve have extensive training and skill in LRH Admin Technology, and Mark in many aspects of the expected implementation of this Electronic Information System Plan, but Karl and they also recognized that many parts of the plan require their locating, studying and perfecting the use of new software programs and computer technologies which are not in use at Vibrant Life and also not in their personal background experience. Both Sean and Andrew should be called on by Mark and Steve to take parts of this work.

With this background we surmise that many other companies have various parts of an electronic information system and may well be approaching "modernization, etc" with needs similar to ours.

As common as the Vibrant Life situation may seem, when I looked for information on "electronic information systems" by various searches I was surprised to find little that covered this subject in the way that might be helpful to Vibrant Life.  Thus, it appears that there may be a need for this type of service in the marketplace.

This was true 20 years ago when I first wrote it. What is the scene now?

The research and study needed by Mark and Steve, once done, and particularly once implemented at Vibrant Life, would leave Vibrant Life with staff, experience and skill in implementing this same type of plan for others and Karl is ready to propose "joint ventures" among those who work on this.  The purpose of the joint venture would be to implement  similar new electronic information systems, or parts of such systems, for others and to do this as separate business activity from Vibrant Life.

This page, then, introduces the plan for implementing the new electronic information system for Vibrant Life and then also introduces the plan on how the skills and knowledge gained in accomplishing this first purpose will be carried over to the joint venture activity of doing a similar service for others.  The joint venture has adopted the business name of "Lucid Minds," and starts out as a non-independent entity (such as a department) within Vibrant Life, then transforms, gradually, through various stages to a completely separate legal entity, according to the plan for the joint venture.

Mark started off here with just such a plan, and urgently needs to get back to it -- to implement use of Visual Basic to support and hold the Master/Entry program which has existed in a DOS form for far too long.

The plan for implementing the new information system within Vibrant Life is described on THIS PAGE.

The plan for developing the joint venture is described starting here.

Quick Definitions:

The term "electronic information" includes web pages and internet services, such as eMail.  This term also includes data bases and programs for handling information such as would be contained within a database.  I, Karl Loren, have written an essay on "electronic information systems" here.

The term "modernization" refers to the fact that Vibrant Life, for instance, implemented use of dBase III, some 20 years ago, still uses it in 2003, and that this program is no longer supported nor used in "modern" computers.  Programs such as Microsoft "Access" and others have developed and replaced most uses of programs such as dBase III.  The term "modernization" means bringing the underlying computer technology into modern times, replacing dBase III, for instance, with more modern software, and implementing modern technology for integrating many different programs so that they work with one another seamlessly. 

The term "migration" has two meanings in our usage.  The term "migrate" is typically used for process of "changing" from one system to a newer system. We also use this term to describe the process of moving some or many of our computer programs from being based on a local hard drive to being based on an Internet Server or on our Small Business Server (which is woefully neglected just yet).

The term "integration" has to do with the smooth connection and flow of data among and between various separate manipulations and uses.  For instance it has been common for firms to receive data by eMail and then have to take that data and manually input it into other parts of the total information system. There are techniques of "mapping" that allow eMail data in especially designed forms to be automatically grabbed out of the eMail and inserted into a database, for instance, but it is also true that the connection between the eMail message and the database is often an area of complexity and anxiety for many firms.

The term "maintenance" has to do with upkeep and repair of not only the hardware and software involved in the various systems, but the training and advancement of personnel responsible for the system.  Part of "maintaining" any system is doing continual research on "what is new" in the field of information technology, judging it and using what is appropriate.

The term "standardization" has to do with the all-too-common situation where systems have grown without an initial centralizing source of authority -- where hardware, and particularly software, are not compatible from one area to another.

L. Ron Hubbard

Karl Loren has been a student for some 30 years of the management technology developed by Mr. Hubbard.  He expects to apply the management concepts developed by Mr. Hubbard for both Vibrant Life and any other business entity or group which uses the services of Lucid Minds

Mr. Hubbard developed a complete method of devising a "plan" and also guidelines for writing and implementing "policy" in any organization.  We expect to make extensive use of this management technology.  Many of the pages in this web include quotes from the works of Mr. Hubbard.  There is a reference list of all such pages HERE.

Policy

The word "policy" relates to the top level, detailed, set of rules and procedures for administering any organization.  "Policy" is typically issued under the authority of the senior executive of any organization.  For Vibrant Life, and for Lucid Minds (initially as a part of Vibrant Life) Policy is generally written by Karl Loren, or authorized by him as "official."

Policies that apply to this Plan and to Lucid Minds are not necessarily all on this web site, but those that are here are cataloged HERE.

Policies have the force of an "order" but are permanent in nature.  They can be revised or canceled only by the issuing authority.  All staff are expected to know and follow policy.

"Notes" are informal and do not have the authority of Policy, but are useful for guidance and may be formalized into Policy.  Notes are normally written by Staff Members.

"Data" is a section of this web where various external information is published.  This is often used as background information for some other page or subject.

Karl Loren

Founder