Garrison based intranet prototype for the 40th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

158 Pages·2.6 MB·English

by  Heckroth, Nelson T,Olson, Thomas M

NPS ARCHIVE
1997
HECKROTH, N.
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
Monterey, California
THESIS
GARRISON BASED INTRANET PROTOTYPE FOR THE
40TH INFANTRY DIVISION (MECHANIZED)
by
Nelson T. Heckroth
and
Thomas M. Olson
September, 1997
Thesis Advisor: Suresh Sridhar
Second Reader: Tung Bui
Thesis
H41789
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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September 1997 Master'sThesis
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Garrison Based IntranetPrototype forthe40th InfantryDivision (Mechanized)
AUTHOR(S)
6.
Heckroth, Nelson T. andOlson, Thomas M.
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S)ANDADDRESS(ES) 8R.EPORT NUMBER
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA 93943-5000
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Defense orthe U.S. Government.
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Approvedforpublic release; distribution is unlimited.
13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words)
This thesis introducesthe concept ofan Intranet, chroniclestheefforts requiredto create and deliveran Intranet, andprovides a
discussion ofadvantages and disadvantages ofusingan Intranet. Itdemonstratesthatan Intranetcan be ausefulmechanismto
solveproblemsrelatedto information control and distributionforthereserve componentofthe40th Infantry Division
(Mechanized).
Thethesis contains adetailed description oftherapidprototypingprocessmodel, as well asthemodificationsrequiredto adapt
the process forIntranetdevelopment. Further, itdescribesthe gathering ofsystem requirements usingtheresults ofseveral
structuredwalk-throughs. It also describes, in detail, the developmenteffortstoaddresseachoftherequirements identified.
Theprototype developed as partofthisthesis demonstrates severalkey aspects ofIntranetdevelopmentand deployment. For
example, it incorporateswebpage developmentusingCommercial-Off-The-Shelfproducts commontothe division, andthe
development ofinteractivefunctionswith spreadsheetanddatabaseprograms. Thisthesis also addresses issues suchas security and
contentcontrolwhich are crucial for Intranetdeployment.
14. SUBJECTTERMS 15. NUMBEROF
Intranet, infantry division, information control, rapidprototypingprocess, webpagedevelopment, PAGES
Commercial-Off-The-Shelf 158
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
GARRISON BASED INTRANET PROTOTYPE FOR THE 40TH INFANTRY
DIVISION (MECHANIZED)
Nelson T. Heckroth
Major, United States Marine Corps
B.A., Oregon State University, 1985
and
Thomas M. Olson
Major, United States Army
B.S., South Dakota State University, 1983
Submitted inpartial fulfillment ofthe
requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
MP 5 A&CHNg,
OUDLEYKNOXLIBRARY
NAVALPOSTGRADUATESCHOOL
MONTFREYCA <W943-5101
ABSTRACT
This thesis introduces the concept ofan Intranet, chronicles the efforts required to
create and deliver an Intranet, and provides a discussion ofadvantages and disadvantages
ofusing an Intranet. It demonstrates that an Intranet can be a useful mechanism to solve
problems related to information control and distribution for the reserve component ofthe
40th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
The thesis contains a detailed description ofthe rapid prototyping process model,
as well as the modifications required to adapt the process for Intranet development.
Further, it describes the gathering of system requirements using the results of several
structured walk-throughs. It also describes, in detail, the development efforts to address
each ofthe requirements identified.
The prototype developed as part ofthis thesis demonstrates several key aspects of
Intranet development and deployment. For example, it incorporates webpage
development using Commercial-Off-The-Shelfproducts common to the division, and the
development ofinteractive functions with spreadsheet and database programs. This thesis
also addresses issues such as security and content control which are crucial for Intranet
deployment.
VI
.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. 1
BACKGROUND
A. 1
B. WHAT IS AN INTRANET? 2
CONTENTS
C. 2
1. Introduction 2
2. Intranet 2
3. The Customer 3
4. The Prototyping Process 3
5. Identification ofBasic Requirements 3
6. The Prototype 4
7. Recommendations for Intranet Operations. 4
INTRANET
II. 5
INTRODUCTION
A. 5
ADVANTAGES OF INTRANET USE
B. 5
1. Simplified Information Access 5
2. Enhancement ofCommunication and Collaboration 5
3. Productivity Enhancement 6
4. Decision Support 6
5. Affordability 7
6. Ease-of-Use 7
INTRANET TECHNOLOGIES.
C. 7
1 The Client/Server Model 7
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
D. 11
INFORMATION CREATION AND CONSUMPTION
E. 12
1. Content Creation 14
2. Analysis and Data Access 14
3. Collaboration 15
4. Publishing 15
vii
CONCLUSION
F. 15
THE CUSTOMER
III. 17
A. INTRODUCTION 17
BACKGROUND
B. 17
1. History 17
2. Organization 18
3. Structure 20
4. Mission 22
RESERVE COMPONENT AUTOMATION SYSTEM
C. 23
1. Background 23
2. Scope 25
3. System Architecture 26
4. System Data and Applications 30
5. RCAS Development 32
D. CURRENT STATUS 33
IV. THE PROTOTYPING PROCESS 37
A. INTRODUCTION 37
THE PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT MODEL
B. 37
SCOPE
C. 42
CURRENT INFORMATION OPERATIONS
D. 43
ADAPTATION OF THE PROTOTYPE PROCESS FORA
E.
MILITARY INTRANET 44
CONCLUSION
F. 46
V. IDENTIFICATION OF BASIC REQUIREMENTS. 49
A. INTRODUCTION 49
BACKGROUND
B. 49
C. PERSPECTIVE 50
viii