Project Brief
1.
Introduction
In
the 211th Governing Body Meeting of ICAR held on 13th
October 2008 in New Delhi, it is desired to develop and implement a computerized
system that helps in taking decisions to check duplication in research projects
both at divisional as well as inter divisional level.
Keeping
in view the above it is proposed to develop and implement a computerized system
at Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute (IASRI), New Delhi. The
activity has been taken up as a project namely Development of Project
Information & Management System of ICAR (PIMS-ICAR) with objectives to check
duplication in research projects both at divisional as well as inter divisional
level; for on-line monitoring and concurrent evaluation of the ongoing research
projects and for other management requirements.
The
proposed system would have the modules on Data Management, Mechanism to check
duplication in research projects, Monitoring, Reports & Queries, and User
Management & Administration.
The
Data Management module includes forms to feed data for a new project as well as
to modify the existing projects for Project Data Entry, Updating and Browsing.
The Monitoring module is designed for on-line monitoring and
concurrent evaluation of the progress of the projects running under ICAR.
The User Management and Administration controls its accessibility
features provided to System Administrators and other class of users like
Principal Investigators, Nodal Officers, Head of the Divisions, Directors, ADGs,
DDGs and Director General of ICAR.
The
system is accessible to System Administrators and other class of users like
Principal Investigators, Nodal Officers, Head of the Divisions, Directors, ADGs,
DDGs and Director General of ICAR. PIMS-ICAR has the following modules:
2.
Definition
of problem
The
Project Information & Management System of ICAR (PIMS-ICAR) will be designed
with objectives to
develop some mechanism to check duplication in research projects both at
divisional and inter divisional level and on-line
monitoring and concurrent evaluation of the research projects running under
ICAR. It will lay emphasis on providing a unified information base for
dissemination of information relating to research project activities of all the
Research Institutions including Directorates, NRCs, AICRPs and Extension Centres
in
India
. The system would be dynamic in nature and useful to the individual
institutions as well as to the ICAR.
It will
be designed for the sub modules on Data Management; Detection of Duplication of
research activities; Progress Monitoring; Reports & Queries; User Management
and Administration. It will contain data of all research projects running in
different research institutions under ICAR.
PIMS-ICAR
System will be dynamic in nature and the data need to be updated regularly to
provide up to date Information to the user’s community. Research Coordination
and Monitoring Units (RCMU) would be identified at all the institutions to
maintain the activities of data collection, entry and updating of data to
Central Server. Moreover, the processing of available data through various
modules will act as decision support system for administrators, policy makers
and managers. Considering the
utility and importance of PIMS-ICAR
System, continuous maintenance up- gradation and enhancement in the system in
future would be necessary.
3.
Immediate
objectives
·
To study the
requirements of ICAR Projects Management
· To
develop mechanism to check duplication in research projects both at divisional
and inter divisional level
·
To design
& develop Project Information and Management System of ICAR (PIMS-ICAR)
·
To implement
PIMS-ICAR
3.1
Long
term objectives
·
To
establish data bank of Agricultural Research Projects of ICAR.
·
To
inculcate transparency in Agricultural Research Projects System
·
To create a
System so as to act as a tool for decision making to planners and policy
makers.
4. Highlights of the
functionality that need to be incorporated
·
A user interface for
on-line data entry, data updation, and modification.
·
A user interface for
projects monitoring, replication detection and other reports and queries to meet
the requirements of ICAR.
·
Storage and
maintenance of quantity and quality of research projects data.
·
Security Management
and Administration.
·
Implementation and
Maintenance of PIMS-ICAR at server of IASRI, New Delhi.
5.
Expected Outcomes
·
An independent
information system at the ICAR level would be operational and that will act as a
useful tool for the agricultural research projects data management of the ICAR.
·
It will act as a tool
for institutional reforms as the monitoring processes, when in place, help in
increasing working efficiency and work culture in the system through electronic
governance and office automation.
·
The reporting through
this system will help in measuring the overall impact of the research and
extension technologies developed.
·
A process would be
established to have an overview of the research projects in the ICAR so as to
avoid duplication of research activities at divisional and inter divisional
levels of ICAR.
·
Development of the
mechanism for periodically collection and updating of research project’s data.
6.
Methodology
In
the recent past, IASRI developed a Software package for on-line “Project
Management & Information System” (PIMSNET) with the usual facilities of
updating, retrieval, dissemination of information and online monitoring. It
meets all the requirements of NATP, but the ICAR working system and research
environment is different than NATP. Therefore, the ICAR Projects Management
requirements would be examined and the PIMS-ICAR will be developed.
6.1 Development
of Project Information and Management System of ICAR
For the development of
PIMS-ICAR, the major activities involved would be as follows:
·
Designing and
development of database to meet the ICAR Projects Management Requirements and to
act as back end database for PIMS-ICAR
·
Development of user
interfaces for on-line data entry, data updating, and modification that may
include:
Ø
Design and development of front end tools
Ø
Design and development of input forms
Ø
Validation and linking of input forms
Ø
Testing and validation with real data
·
Development of a
module capable to assist in identification of duplication of research activities
at divisional and inter divisional level of ICAR.
·
Development of user
interfaces for projects monitoring, and reports/queries to meet the requirements
of all the Research Institutions including Directorates, NRCs, AICRPs and
Extension Centres in India.
·
Collection and
compilation of initial operational data for master database of PIMS-ICAR.
6.2
Implementation of PIMS-ICAR
For successful
implementation of PIMS-ICAR, the major activities would be as follows:
6.2.1
Organization of Sensitization and Training workshops:
For
implementation of PIMS-ICAR, the Sensitization and Training workshops need to
be organized. The objectives of the workshop will be as follows:
·
To sensitize the
policy makers, managers and other administrators about the need and importance
of the system and timely providing the data.
·
To establish Linkage
between Coordinating Unit and participating institutions.
·
To define the
initial data requirements of PIMS-ICAR.
·
To discuss and
finalise the contents to be included in the system.
·
To discuss the
requirement and expectations of ICAR from the system.
·
To emphasise on the
responsibility of data entry and regular updating of projects data by
respective participating institutions.
·
To emphasize on
technical manpower support, equipments and infrastructural requirements for
data entry and updating at the RCM units of respective institutions.
·
To bring awareness
and train the participating institutions for projects data entry and updating.
The
Lead Centre at IASRI,
New Delhi
in consultation with ICAR, would organize sensitization workshops in different
zones of the country. The participating institutions may be distributed into 5
convenient zones (North, South, East, West and Central Zone) for the purpose
of organizing workshops. The Sensitization workshops may be organized in two
phases.
- At
the initial stage of development of PIMS-ICAR to finalise the
requirements.
- After
implementation of the PIMS-ICAR on the Internet, to bring awareness and
train the participating institutions for projects data entry.
As
an outcome from the sensitization workshops, the following activities would be
undertaken at the Lead Centre at IASRI,
New Delhi
.
6.2.2 Identification
of RCM Units and Nodal Officers
·
Liaison with all
ICAR institutions for identification of Nodal Officer and/or I/C
of RCM Units.
·
RCM Units under the
control of Nominated Nodal Officers of the concerned institution will be made
responsible for Research Projects data entry and updating into PIMS-ICAR.
·
The concerned
Director or Officer I/C of the institutions will be requested to provide
necessary infrastructural facilities for the establishment of RCM Unit for
doing the needful.
6.2.3 Installation
of the PIMS-ICAR Software
·
After final testing
and validation of the software with real data, the PIMS-ICAR would be
installed and implemented on the Internet at the SERVER available at IASRI,
New Delhi.
·
The secured access
through UserId and Password will be provided to all the authorised
participating institutions.
·
On implementation of
PIMS-ICAR on the Internet, the process of data collection, data entry and
updation will become operational.
·
The access to
PIMS-ICAR for the authorised users (Planners, Policy Makers, and Research
Managers) for projects monitoring, reports/query generation will be available
from the central server of IASRI, New Delhi.
·
The data entry and
regular updation by all the participating institutions of ICAR through their
respective RCM units would become a regular activity.
6.2.4 Maintenance
of PIMS-ICAR
·
The day-to-day
operational maintenance of PIMS-ICAR will be under the direct control of the
IASRI, New Delhi.
·
For any refinement,
modifications or updates of PIMS-ICAR software as per future requirements,
IASRI, New Delhi will provide all technical support.
7.
Organisational Structure
Network of PIMS-ICAR
·
A Coordinating Unit at
the Office of DDG(Engg.), ICAR, New Delhi.
·
The Lead Centre of the
Project at IASRI, New Delhi.
·
Research Coordination
and Management Unit (RCMU) at each institution of ICAR.