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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume IV, Issue 9 | September 2001 |
The goal of the Bureau of Accounts and Control in developing the Maine State -Time and Attendance Management System (MS-TAMS) is to implement "a standardized, integrated system to support time and attendance functions for the State of Maine". However, this is a coordinated effort involving many people.
For starters, thirty-five agencies will use MS-TAMS. All agencies have their own processes, procedures and practices surrounding time and attendance, leave accounting, and project accounting. Their uniqueness presented some design challenges. The requirements called for a system that standardized some areas and allowed flexibility where it was needed. Thanks to the dedication of the Project Team and other agency representatives MS-TAMS meets those challenges!
Next, consider that "statewide" means MS-TAMS must be designed for use by every state employee whether they are a Conservation Forest Ranger many miles from the nearest town, or a visually impaired payroll clerk using a screen reader.
Remote Users In order to use MS-TAMS, employees will need access to the Wide Area Network (WAN). Although the intent is for each employee to enter their own time into MS-TAMS, we know that in some cases this is impossible.
Of the 10,511 state employees who will use MS-TAMS, 2,246 do not have access to the Wide Area Network (WAN).1 How will they use the system?
Jeff Currier, Maine Forest Ranger, is working on a forest fire. The Forest Protection Division in Conservation protects Maine's 17,749,000 acres of forested land. |
For example, the Department of Conservation has some of the most remote users of MS-TAMS. According to Deb Phillips, Personnel Manager, fifty-eight Forest Rangers work in the Maine woods all over the state. They protect our forests, and work on fire suppression and prevention. The majority of these rangers do not have immediate access to a telephone, let alone a computer. If Deb is lucky, she can reach a Forest Ranger by radio, pager or cell phone. Employees working in the Bureau of Parks and Lands face similar issues. How will they use the system? MS-TAMS has a data entry function. The Department plans to have the Forest Rangers and the majority of other field staff continue filling out paper time sheets as they do today. Then a designated person with WAN access will enter the time sheet information into MS-TAMS for them. |
Some agencies have employees without a computer, but they work a little closer to town. These employees occasionally go to their district or regional office. They can access MS-TAMS using a common computer with WAN access to complete their time sheets.
Breaking Down the Barriers and Setting Standards For Accessibility During 1997, the Information Services Managers Group (ISMG) appointed an Accessibility Subcommittee, and last fall, the Subcommittee formulated a Web content policy including Web pages and Web applications policies. The ISMG has approved and adopted the Maine State Government Web Content Policy.
According to the Web accessibility policy, Maine State Government is committed to ensuring that all employees, including those who have disabilities, have a right to access Maine’s information resources. Therefore, facilities, technologies, and services that are sources for information must be designed to provide universal access.
How does this affect MS-TAMS? MS-TAMS is an Oracle Web based system and is subject to all accessibility standards and policies. Floyd White, a Systems Analyst at the Bureau of Information Services (and a member of the Accessibility Subcommittee), reviewed the MS-TAMS Web application system and felt that it was not only accessible but also easy for anyone to use! He commended the MS-TAMS Technical Team on their persistence in ensuring the applications accessibility. Floyd hopes that the MS-TAMS Project will become a standard for all Web application development in the future.
In conclusion, the various teams are committed to building a system that everyone can use. Whether state employees work in Augusta, or in the Allagash, their time information will find its way to MS-TAMS!
1. During March 2001, the Project Office sent questionnaires to the MS-TAMS liaisons in thirty-five agencies. This information was compiled from their responses.
Questions? Contact the author by e-mailing Tessa.Guerrette@state.me.us.
