CONCEPT: Develop an application that automatically informs company personnel of actions taken, actions to be taken, items ordered, incoming items, etc. Tasks, notifications and distribution lists can be quickly and easily created and used. User lists can be automatically created from NT user lists. Should have a universal import/export utility. Should be a small application that is easily portable and downloadable. EXAMPLE OF CONCEPT: 1. An employee wants to order a new chair to replace their broken chair. He gets on the system and selects "Supply Request" from the list of drop down items that are available to all users, and requests the chair. 2. The request is routed to the person's Supervisor for approval prior to being allowed to go to the Ordering Department. The Supervisor enters an "Approval Code" that releases the task to continue on it's way. 3. That request shows up on the "Ordering Department" person's task list. They order the chair and place the information in the system. That information is then used to notify: a. Accounting that an order has been place and how we will be billed b. Receiving that a package will be coming in that should go to the employee c. The employee, saying the chair has been ordered and the expected arrival date. d. Etc. 4. When the chair arrives, Receiving acknowledges it in the system 5. The Ordering department and Accounting department, and employee are notified that the chair arrived in good condition. 6. When the invoice arrives and is paid by Accounting, they acknowledge it in the system and the Ordering Dept is notified that the chair was paid for. 7. END EXAMPLE #2 OF CONCEPT: 1. We receive a request to do some work. Let's say set up a trade show. 2. The account manager selects "Set Up a Tradeshow" from her custom dropdown list. ("Set Up a Tradeshow" is actually a compilation of smaller tasks that are grouped together.) 3. She plugs the requested information into the system. 4. The appropriate information is then distributed (with due dates that were also entered) to the employees who set up different aspects of the tradeshow. 5. Each employee may receive 3 - 5 different tasks based on what normally is required to set up a trade show. 6. As they complete the tasks information is sent back to the account manager, to accounting, shipping and receiving, etc. as is required by those tasks. 7. Notifications are returned to the appropriate people as the tasks are completed, paid for, etc. 8. END CENTRAL POINTS TO THE CONCEPT: 1. The application ENABLES users to set up their own task and distribution lists, as opposed to having predefined tasks. 2. The application is easy to use, so that with minimal training anyone can create, modify, delete and group tasks. 3. The application asks for the information appropriate to each task. 4. The application has to be very easy to work with. 5. The application has a feedback function to notify people when tasks have not been completed. 6. It should have a way to do a "one way notification" of people who are not on the system - using e-mail - such as clients or vendors. 7. It should be able to import/export information for use with other systems as necessary. NEEDS/REQUIREMENTS: 1. A database system that allows users to set up fields using a friendly interface. 2. A distribution and notification element that routes task information, tracks due dates and notifies users of complete/incomplete tasks. 3. Reporting capabilities. 4. A user setup and management feature that allows certain tasks to be available to certain users or user groups. 5. In import or interface utility that takes user information from an NT server's user list. 6. A module that interfaces with the user's e-mail software for off-site notification of people who are not part of the system. 7. Calendar and other task views. 8. Task Cancellation abilities - where it sends notification of cancelled task and removes the tasks from other's task lists. 9. Supervisor Level Approval. ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ VIEWS, SCREENS AND WORKFLOW: LOGON SCREEN: 1. Asks for username and password. 2. This information identifies them to the system, determines what tasks and rights they have, etc. Says who their approval supervisor is. MAIN VIEW SCREEN: 1. "Tab View" interface where all screens are available at all times by clicking the appropriate tabs across the top (or bottom) of the screen. 2. The default TAB is VIEW YOUR TASKS. 3. Other available TABS include: START A TASK, CREATE A TASK OR TASK GROUP, COMPLETED TASKS, CALENDAR VIEW, ADMINISTRATION/MAINT. VIEW YOUR TASKS SCREEN: 1. Shows all current tasks as a single line list with the following fields: a. Task Name b. Due Date c. Notes/Procedures d. Assigned By e. Will Go To 2. Double clicking on a task will bring up a task window that shows all the information in the task and has the following buttons: a. Complete Task b. Declined/Cancelled c. Request More Information/Problem Notification 3. Clicking Complete Task will bring up another window for them to enter the appropriate information to complete the task. This would include whatever information is assigned to the task such as "Ordered From", "Due Date", "Amount", "Invoiced". ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Document converted from word 8 by MSWordView (mswordview 0.4.4) MSWordView written by Caolan McNamara