Real-Time Integration Management Console
The Real-Time Integration software allows Tuition Management Systems to exchange live data such as budget adjustments, enrollments, and withdrawals with partner schools.
I was asked to design the first GUI for RTI's configuration and management process; previously, the IT group made all changes through the back-end database, an expensive and time-consuming process.
The new software will allow Professional Services, the group responsible for setting up new schools, to perform their own setup and maintenance, facilitating quick configuration and freeing the IT group to focus on other projects.
Over time the Management Console will reduce the process of configuring a new school from a process that takes several weeks to a process that takes several days, decreasing costs and allowing TMS to offer the RTI solution to a wider set of clients.
Background
RTI configuration is a complex process that involves configuring a set of required and optional parameters to be sent as part of connection URLs. There are several different types of connections that can be set up, depending on what information needs to be exchanged.
The configuration also varies significantly based on whether the school uses Banner, Peoplesoft, or Datatel software to manage its student information; each system requires different parameters and options.
Users
One of the challenges of the project was to design software that would be usable by the three intended user groups, each of which has different roles and very different levels of technical expertise:
- The Professional Services team, the core users responsible for setting up new schools for RTI
- The IT group, highly technical users who will need to use the Console for some advanced configuration and monitoring
- The Member School Representatives (MSRs), relatively non-technical users who are responsible for managing TMS' relationship with partner schools.
Design
The original design proposed by the development team was suited to the most technical of the intended audiences. After analysis, I recommended a design usable by the least technical audience, with advanced configuration options available to the more technical groups using role-based security.
On my recommendation the development team also created extensive default configurations that should work in the majority of cases with a minimum of modification, to minimize setup work and to make the process easier for less technical users.
The design uses help and hint text throughout to guide less experienced users through the configuration process, while still being usable by more experienced groups.
Throughout the project we worked closely with the IT and Professional Services group to design software that would suit their needs and be simple and intuitive to use.
Responsibilities
- Performed initial analysis and research, including interviewing user groups and reading API specifications for the RTI software
- Worked with team of .NET developers under tight deadlines in an Agile development environment
- Created initial design mockups and reviewed designs with users and other stakeholders
- Developed HTML and CSS prototypes for implementation by developers
- Wrote all interface copy, including help and hint text
- Developed production JavaScript using Prototype framework
- Assisted developers in implementing and testing final interface
Tools
- Photoshop
- XHTML
- CSS
- JavaScript (including DOM scripting/DHTML)
- Prototype and Scriptaculous libraries
- Firebug
- Firefox Web Developer Toolbar
- Internet Explorer DOM Explorer
Questions?
