2007 was an active year for the TUG Statistics and Reports Group (TSR). Following are some notes about our work during the year. Minutes and other documentation are available on the TUG Staff Web.
TSR membership
After two years of membership changes, TSR membership was stable throughout 2007 with coordinators Vera Fesnak (WLU), Linda Teather (UW) and Ron Ward (UoG). Technical support was provided by Bill Halahan and Gail Sperling. Following the December 11 th meeting, Ron assumed the TSR Chair from Linda.
TSR and Training Team terms of reference
The terms of reference of TSR and the TUG Reports Training Team were reviewed. [Revised drafts were appended for the TUG Executive Committee’s review; revisions were approved at the January 9, 2008 meeting.]
Maintenance of the Cognos production and development servers
Cognos software on the production and development severs was upgraded to version 7.4 MR1. TSR and Training Team members participated in the pre-upgrade testing, using a newly developed standard checklist for functionality for upgrades.
Report request process
A new report request procedure for TUG staff was developed and implemented in May 2007. This new procedure is designed to clarify and standardize the request process by using a common request form and adds a consultation step with designated functional experts to identify report requests that might be addressed by using or editing an existing report.
Monitoring Cognos 8 developments
Cognos 8 issues continued to be monitored by TSR, as were campus Cognos developments at each TUG site. Bill and Gail were invited to participate in vendor presentations when WLU was assessing options for a new campus Business Intelligence (BI) system. Cognos 8 is the recommended system for WLU. Guelph has purchased Cognos 8 and is integrating it for enterprise system analyses. Waterloo has not yet determined its future direction. Gail led the preparation of a Cognos 8 cost benefit analysis at the request of Allan Bell for the TUG Executive.
University of Guelph Cognos 8 Discovery Project
A Cognos 8 discovery and evaluation initiative is underway at the University of Guelph Office of the CIO. Since the UG Library is a major user of Cognos, in conjunction with other TUG partners, Guelph invited TUG input on the tests and testing processes that will need to be evaluated. In her TSR Cognos technical support role, Gail was seconded to TUG/UG for a six month period to work with Bill and UG CCS staff. This is proving to be a valuable learning experience that will enable TSR to assess training and migration requirements should Cognos 8 be selected as TUG’s next BI system.
Training Team
Retirements and job changes reduced the Training Team’s membership in 2007. WLU has renewed its membership, but Waterloo and Guelph are down to one trainer each. New members are required at both sites.
At TSR’s request, the Training Team is preparing a mandatory refresher session for current Cognos users. This will focus on required practices, best practices and how-to’s.
Technical Training
Training to upgrade the knowledge and skills of the Cognos system administrators was addressed in two ways:
Exploring server “audit” log files and TSR cost-sharing formula
It was TSR’s intention to examine data cubes and reports derived from “audit” log files that are created when an Impromptu report is run or viewed on the server and to evaluate whether this data might be used to create a meaningful TSR cost-sharing formula. TSR has deferred both of these topics until the future direction of TUG’s reporting and statistical support environment is determined. As a result, TSR will continue to apply the TRELLIS cost-sharing formula.
TSR’s assessment of Cognos 8 is underway via the UG Discovery Project and a TSR recommendation regarding Cognos 8 or some other system should be made in 2008 so that licensing/costing issues can be addressed and planning begun for migration and training.
Review of existing reports and future reporting needs
As part of a general clean up, a review of reports currently available in the database should be performed. This reconciliation process will purge redundant or unused reports and enable a more efficient and productive migration process to whichever system is employed in the future. This review process will also potentially benefit the TSR staff in the incorporation of Verde and Primo related reports and processes.
Hardware migration
Purchase of the new server included in TSR’s 2007/08 budget was deferred pending the outcome of UW’s Blade server/VMWare migration plan. UW’s new server configuration will accommodate TSR’s servers and migration should occur in 2008. This will provide improved supportability and failover redundancy at, we understand, no cost to TUG.
Training
Training Team membership renewal is required. Guelph and Waterloo both have vacant positions and rotation should be explored with the remaining original team members. TSR should assist the Training Team to enhance trainers’ knowledge, identify training needs of TUG staff, and develop a training plan for a successor to Cognos 7.
TSR’s budget proposal for 2008/09 includes support for training for the system administrators related to Cognos 8 (dependent on the BI direction chosen for TUG) and training for the Training Team to assist with the development of new members appointed to the team. Dependent on the curriculum, purchasing some training seats at WLU’s local Cognos 8 training sessions would be a more cost-effective approach to address some TSR Cognos 8 training needs. TSR is discussing this option with WLU. Training dates and curriculum have not yet been determined.
TSR membership
2008 will see another change in TSR membership. UW will appoint a new TSR representative to replace Linda in the Spring.
Submitted by TUG Statistics and Reports Group (Vera Fesnak, Linda Teather, Ron Ward)
January 7, 2008