Data Integration

With limited economic resources, state agencies are looking to leverage technology investments on a wider scale to take advantage of opportunities for reuse.

Integrating key enterprise data sources provides a more complete and accurate picture of operations and service delivery outcomes, allowing agencies to realize savings associated with the costs of legacy system maintenance and duplication of effort. Robust reporting tools target the integrated data set to improve analytic capabilities and increase the speed and accuracy at which agencies can respond to questions from management, external stakeholders, and Legislative inquiries.

It is extremely common for state agencies to have multiple legacy operational systems with little or no reporting capability. Loblolly takes agency history, culture, objectives, and constraints into account, helping clients select a data integration strategy that is appropriately complex for the problem they are trying to solve. Loblolly understands that design for decision support can be different than design for data mining which is discovery driven.

Iterative Approach

To help ensure success during data integration efforts, we use an iterative approach. Our commitment to perform stakeholder validation and approval at each step and acquire and use the built-in learning that occurs during iterations of deliverables ensures that no details are missed and the user’s business needs are met. Emphasis is placed on user validation at key points in the design and implementation phases, including:

  • Assessment of storage environments based on project needs
  • Data sizing and capacity planning
  • Development and validation of conceptual data models, logical data models, storyboards and prototypes
  • Data load and staging design
  • Execution of user acceptance testing

Example

Loblolly assisted a client with their Data Mart since its conception with data design, load, integration, aggregation, and report development. The Data Mart provides the following:

  • Near real-time response to inquiries from the Legislature as well as other external stakeholders
  • Quantitative data support for the design of strategic initiatives such as cost containment or program redesign
  • Support for reporting quantitative measures to Federal agencies to sustain funding
  • Comparisons of service offerings across programs
  • Reporting to increase effectiveness and efficiency. One report reduced the time to prepare for an on-site visit from 8 hours to less than 1 hour. Between three and four thousand visits are done per year.
  • On-going ad hoc analysis for executive initiatives