Improving Internal Interoperability
Due to the lack of open standards, data is often locked into a system and is not sharable or easily exploitable. Bespoke software is typically used to join different applications and data sources together - the 'spaghetti' of integration - and the cost of integrating disparate information system such as library management, virtual learning, finance, student records, and timetabling can be high. Poor integration also introduces errors and inefficiencies associated with duplication of effort.
These inefficiencies can be addressed by offering the seamless integration of data between two or more disparate systems. This is becoming increasingly achieved within the broader context of a service-oriented approach, open standards development and increased supplier interaction. More specifically, it could involve the use of web service interfaces and Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) middleware to build an interoperability layer over existing major systems so that:
- Institutions can reduce the ineffective and expensive practices around duplication of effort and manual manipulation of data between their systems
- Senior managers have improved access to, and exploitation of, information across their systems, to support intelligent decision-making and reporting requirements, in an increasingly competitive, resource-restricted environment
- Institutions can align their ICT strategy and implementation with organisation strategy, and become more agile and responsive to changing demands and priorities
The benefits of delivering improved internal integration are likely to be optimised when carried out in parallel with effective business process review and improvement practices.
