People and Technology in the Workplace (1991) / Chapter Skim
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The Forest Service Information System
The Forest Service Information System
Pages 253-271
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From page 253... ...
It serves a great variety of users by integrating many functions within a single operating environment. This case study describes the origins and implementation of the Forest Service information processing system and explores the information environment that shapes its present and future use.
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From page 254... ...
That network includes more than 900 computers anti 18,000 terminals distributed over 45 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The Forest Service provides national forestry leadership and manages all National Forest System lancI, about 191 million acres of public lands {consisting of 156 National Forests, 19 National Grasslands, and 16 Land Utilization Projects)
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From page 255... ...
Currently it operates lob Corps Centers to teach skills to uneducated young people. EVOLUTION OF THE FOREST SERVICE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT Like many other large organizations, the Forest Service started using computers in the 1960s.
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From page 256... ...
In the early 1970s, large mainframe computers and remote processing came on the scene when the Department of Agriculture established the Fort Collins Computer Center {FCCCJ. The Forest Service used this centralized computer system as well as some outside time-share facilities over the next 10 years to support a number of national business, engineering, and resource management applications.
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From page 257... ...
After a thorough examination that covered the capabilities, vendors, and costs of the various systems, the Forest Service chose Data General. When this decision had been made and accepted, the real work of implementing the largest nationwide distributed information network began.
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From page 258... ...
In a 1986 independent report, the Rand Institute for Research on Interactive Systems noted that the implementation, installation, and initial training stage "appears remarkably successful; it has proceeded according to schedule, the systems have been reliable and use is high." THE FOREST-LEVEL INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM Currently, the Forest Service distributed processing system uses more than 900 Data General ECLIPSE MV/FamiTy superminicomputers and 18,000 terminals. The systems communicate with each other and with IBM mainframes located in New OrIeans, Louisiana, and Unisys mainframes in the Fort Collins Computer Center in Colorado, over a Telenet X.25 public data network.
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From page 259... ...
As part of the analysis, they surveyed 12 National Forest rangers and office personnel using the system and quantitatively calculated the financial benefit to the Forest Service. The results were impressive.
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From page 260... ...
Originally, Data General worked with the Forest Service to provide installation, training, and field service. Now, as the result of a cooperative training program between Data General field service and the Forest Service personnel, Forest Service technicians have taken over many of the basic maintenance and repair services.
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From page 261... ...
The Forest Service believes that providing its "knowIedge workers" with quality management information represents a significant opportunity to improve the agency's performance. In summary, the nationwide distributed information network has made a tremendous difference in service to the public, and the Forest Service has learned how to manage information.
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From page 262... ...
interface at each line office · Personal identity ant] accountability at all times when using information and technology · Effective audit trait for interactive events · Carefully constructed set of standards for information structure and the human interface · Orderly framework for access to, and dissemination of, information in the interoffice environment By focusing on these principles, the Forest Service has successfully implemented state-of-the-art information processing throughout the National Forest System.
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From page 263... ...
One Information Structure and Interface at Each Line Office Organization of information through the distributed processing system permits the Forest Service to achieve its goal of having a single source that can locate any information needed within each office. Through implementation of information management stan _ _ v ~ 1 .
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From page 264... ...
An unauthorized individual gained access to a Forest Service system and then obtained further information on how to misrepresent himself as other vaTicl users. As a result of this security breach, the Forest Service has established user-name conventions and standards that c30 the following: · Require unique personal identity at all times when using the system · Require an individual to be a member of one and only one office · Assign information management roles to individuals, not functions · Link Togs and other audit trails to individual actions, not functions · Prohibit transferring personal identity between individuals for any reason Effective Audlit Trail for Interactive Events A key feature of the clistributed processing system is a comprehensive audit trait that will ensure integrity and responsibility for actions.
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From page 265... ...
Framework for Information Access and Dissemination The Forest Service's distributed processing system is truly a network that facilitates interoffice transfer of information, thus improving speech and ease of information communication throughout the National Forest System. It ensures that more up-to-date management information is available, and it improves the agency's ability to function as a single unit rather than a geographically diverse group of offices.
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From page 266... ...
Certainly it will not be possible to address all of the trends that will affect the Forest Service. However, there are known or reasonably predictable movements, shifts, or changes in the Forest Service operating environment that are relevant to its future information environment.
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From page 267... ...
The roles of some organizations will change to reflect their responsibility to provide quality source data to be shared in this networked information environment. The public will increasingly demand more and better "consumer/ user" information about the National Forest System.
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From page 268... ...
Inclividuals and special interest groups will become more sophisticated in examining alternative ways to manage the national forests, communicating their desires, and influencing, if not helping to make, management decisions. There will continue to be a great clear of political oversight of Forest Service programs.
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From page 269... ...
Technology The future information environment will provide users with "one-stop-shopping" for information by means of technology that is integrated, easy-to-use, and provides the state-of-the-art information delivery capabilities needed to help the Forest Service accomplish its mission. The information delivery system technology will · support all essential information in an integrated, uniform; consistent electronic environment throughout the agency; · be conveniently accessible to agency employees and the public; · be easy to use by agency employees and the public; · support a group working environment both at designated meeting sites and from clispersec3 geographic locations; · support a mobile work force; · be compatible with national ant!
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From page 270... ...
CONCLUSION This vision of the future information environment is a goal that the Forest Service will continue to strive for. It is critical for the Forest Service to understand!
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From page 271... ...
In fact, the vision is not a fixed target. The principles on which it is built are relatively stable, but the characteristics of the future information environment will need to be responsive to changes in the internal and external forces that affect the operating environment.
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