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Lab #1 – JOURNALHUB PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Mark Cunanan
Purple Team
Old Dominion University
CS411W
Professor Janet Brunelle
February 7, 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………3
2.
JOURNALHUB PRODUCT DESCRIPTION…………………………………….4
2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities………………………………...4
2.2 Major Components (Hardware/Software)…………………....………...4
3.
IDENTIFICATION OF CASE STUDY………………………………...………....6
3.1 Description of Issue………………………………………...…………..6
3.2 Evidence of Issue…………………………………………...…………..6
4.
JOURNALHUB PROTOTYPE DESCRIPTION……………………...…………...8
4.1
Prototype Architecture (Hardware/Software)…………………...…..8
4.2
Prototype Features and Capabilities…………………………...…….9
4.3
Prototype Development Challenges…………………………………10
GLOSSARY…………………………………………………………………………...…….11
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………14
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 – Virginian Pilot Current Process Model………………………………….………..7
Figure 2 – Modified Process Model…………………………………………….,……………7
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 – Prototype vs RWP…………………………………………………...………………8
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1. INTRODUCTION
The United States economy loses between $50 and $150 billion every year due to failed
Information Technology (IT) projects. In 2012, only 2.5% of companies successfully finished
projects to 100% completion (Hardy-Vallee, 2012). The source of these costly failures is due to
the lack of management skills and inadequate tools. Financial burdens are not the only result of
poor work practices. In 2003 seven astronauts lost their lives during a NASA shuttle launch.
Poor procedures and lack of communication aided in the failure of the launch (Luscombe, n.d.).
Software to help the workplace do exists, but lack in specific features or are too complex to
understand without training. This leads to overburdened management refusing to use the
software and results in a confused staff producing subpar products.
Every company that delivers a product or service has to ensure that deadlines are
satisfied. Online news and media organizations are prime examples of this. Staying on top of
time sensitive articles, having a steady and continuous work flow, organization of various media,
and references, while freely collaborating is vital in this environment. Reporters, journalist,
photographers, and editors all work together into producing their product. Without the adequate
tools, it is easy to become disorganized and negatively affect productivity.
JournalHub was developed to for news management and staff to maintain an organized
and efficient workflow. The team behind JournalHub consists of our mentor Erica Smith and Old
Dominion University’s (ODU) Spring 2016 411W Purple Team. Our program will help
collaboration on story development by making all information easily accessible while
maintaining a convenient area for all the employees to interact. We plan to provide a friendly
user-interface (UI) that will be simple and straightforward to use.
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2. JOURNALHUB DESCRIPTION
JournalHub’s is a software for news organizations to implement into their current work
process. It will provide a central platform for all staff members to easily communicate and
collaborate on a single or many articles. The tools and services we provide will be catered in
providing web-based and physical newspapers. Our main goal is to increase work productivity
and generate more quality product.
2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities
Notable key features will include tools to work with their current legacy system. The
database will automatically update to ensure a consistency between the new and old system. A
vast tracking and search system will let employees search and track slugs, descriptions, staff
assignments, files, deadlines, changes, and many various other article-related criteria. They will
have the ability to create notifications for deadlines, requests, changes, and important dates.
JounalHub will also provide an easy-to-use web and mobile interface. We want to ensure
no significant technological knowledge will be required and it will coincide with any legacy
systems. It will be accessible to anywhere with an internet connection. Social media integration
will be implemented to provide a fast and convenient way for staff to login.
2.2 Major Components (Hardware/Software)
JournalHub will consist of a web and database server. The web server will be written in
PHP and contain access to the main UI. It will display a login page for employees to safely
access the program. MySQL will be used to program the database servers and implement the
legacy database. All user accounts, cache, images, old and new archives, will be stored here.
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Since only authorized administrators and employees with an approved login will have access, the
traffic volume will be low. No additional or hardware or software will be needed to compensate.
Administrators will be able to control user permissions and restore backups. Employees can
create profiles to perform certain functions such as set reminders, search for articles, create files,
and view assignments.
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3. IDENTIFICATION OF CASE STUDY
This product is being developed for the Virginian Pilot to create a more organized work
process and efficient staff. As you can see in Figure 1 their previous work process was
disorganized and restricted communication flow. Their current process is time-consuming and
inconvenient. First a reporter must publish their story online with the content management
system (CMS). Then the story is copied into another CMS that is strictly only used for printed
products. When the product for the DTI finalized, it is automatically uploaded to the website.
This makes articles for the web and print CMS work on two different timelines it leads to articles
being overwritten, lost data, confused staff, and disorganization. JournalHub will update their
current process and produce an easier streamlined production as you can see in Figure 2. It will
be implemented with a single CMS and remove unnecessary functions. This product has the
potential to become implemented in any news organization business.
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Figure 1 – Virginian Pilot Current Process Model
Figure 2 – Modified Process Model
4. JOURNALHUB PROTOTYPE DESCRIPTION
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JournalHub prototype will show how our product will work in a real life scenario and
have many similarities to the Real World Product (RWP).The environment will be tested on a
virtual machine. Some of the more complex features and functions will be limited or removed
due to time restrictions. The main features will be prioritized and fully implemented in the
prototype.
Table 1.1 – Prototype vs RWP
4.1 PROTOTYPE ARCHITECTURE (Hardware/Software)
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The prototype will use almost the same architecture as the RWP as seen in Table 1.1. It
will be running a virtual machine using Windows 7 provided by the Computer Science
Department at Old Dominion University. The web interface will be created in PHP and hosted on
ODU web server using Google Chrome browser. The mobile-website will be accessible and
contain the same functionality as the web-based application. The database server will also be
hosted on the ODU server. All of the core features will have functionally with the exception of
database integration. The prototype will be displayed on a laptop or desktop with internet access.
4.2 Prototype Features and Capabilities
There are several features the prototype will have to show its functionality. Mock
accounts will be created to represent the certain functions of the employees. We will display its
tracking and notification systems by simulating interaction between the management and staff.
An email notification system will also generate automated notifications in response to important
triggered events. It will have a searchable database to view specific database entries via multiple
tags that will be simulated to our best representation of Virginian Pilots current database. We
will also be able to track and look-up all information regarding assignments, deadlines, budget,
and content files using the implemented track and search systems. A mobile-accessible
application will also be displayed.
4.3 Prototype Developmental Challenges
There are a few developmental challenges we will face for the prototype. We do not have
access to Virginian Pilots current database server, it will be difficult to get the correct tables and
information needed to provide and accurate representation of the product. We have no access to
an Apple device to test and code for an iOS mobile platform. The team lack’s knowledge in
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mobile and Android Development which may prevent our mobile features from being completed.
We have slight experience in databases, which was help with certain aspects, but prevent us from
legacy integration. Due to licensing issues, we will not be able to utilize the social integration
function. These challenges will not prevent a successful representation of our product.
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GLOSSARY
Admin: a person that has the rights to do anything to the software or database.
Android: open-source operating system used for smartphones and tablet computers.
Cache: component in a system used to store data for future requests.
Content Management System (CMS): allows publishing, editing and modifying content,
organizing, deleting as well as maintenance from a central interface often used to run websites
containing blogs, news, and shopping.
Database: collection of information that is organized for easy accessibility, which can be
managers and updated.
Database Server: a computer program that provides certain database services to enable other
computers or programs.
Editor: a person who is in charge of and determines the final content of a text, particularly a
newspaper or magazine.
Google Chrome Browser: freeware browser developed by Google.
Information Technology (IT): is the application of computers and telecommunications
equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or
other enterprise.
iOS: mobile operating system created by and developed by Apple Inc.
Journalist: a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepare s news to be broadcast
on radio or television.
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Legacy Database: refers to an older database system.
Legacy System: refers to an old system, method, or technology.
Mock accounts: representations of real accounts to simulate real world processes.
MySQL: an open-source relational database management system.
NASA: is a United States government agency responsible for space program and travel.
News editor: a person who is in charge of the news desk at a newspaper or broadcasting
organization and whose job is to oversee the selection and preparation of news items for
publication or broadcast
Old Dominion University (ODU): a public research university located in Norfolk, Virginia.
Photographer: a person who takes photos, sometimes as a career or job.
PHP: server-side scripting language designed for web development but also used as a generalpurpose programming language.
Real World Product (RWP): a real life example of a program or product scaled to
requirements.
Reporter: a person who reports, especially one employed to report news or conduct interviews
for newspapers or broadcasts.
Slug: is a short name given to an article that is in production
User interface: the means by which the user and a computer system interact, in particular the
use of input devices and software.
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Virginian Pilot: is a daily newspaper based in Norfolk, Virginia. Commonly known as The
Pilot, it is Virginia's largest daily
Web Server: is a program that uses HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to serve the files that
form Web pages to users, in response to their requests, which are forwarded by their
computers' HTTP clients.
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REFERENCES
Gallup. (2012). The Cost of Bad Project Management. Retrived February 6, 2016, from Gallup
Website: http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/152429/cost-bad-management.aspx#1
TheGuardian (n.d.). Columbia anniversary: Nasa managers struggled with telling crew of danger.
Retrieved February 6, 2016, from TheGuardian Website:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/01/columbia-space-shuttle-anniversary-nasa