Automate Manual HR Processes
Manteca Unified School District located in the California Central Valley and an emerging bedroom community for Silicon Valley, wanted to automate two HR processes: New hire approvals and vacation scheduling and approval.

Fuzzy Requirements & Tight Budgets
Both HR processes in question were legacy manual processes with many informal and poorly defined steps and requirements, so arriving at clear definition of necessary function was a challenge. In addition, the District’s budgets were limited.

Microsoft Access and Active Server Pages
To deliver an affordable and easy-to-manage solution, Rational IT decided on a solution based on Microsoft Access and Active Server Pages.

The District’s decision-making structure and rules were captured and an easy-to-use user interface was developed.

All District personnel have secure permission-based access and views into both the new-hire process and the vacation approval process.

Upgrade Major Systems
Timogen Systems, a Silicon Valley-based developer of Supply Chain systems, found itself pulling software developers off product development projects to support IT, with predictable impacts on productivity and time-to-market.

Stabilize Without Disrupting Business
Timogen’s systems were deployed ad hoc and poorly documented resulting in an inordinate number of system outages and incidents. The challenge was to stabilize and document systems, in preparation for ongoing support, without disrupting operations.

Stabilize, Document, Support
Rational IT began work by stabilizing and documenting all primary systems and assuring proper backup and security for business continuity. When possible this work was complete during non-business hours to minimize disruption. When complete, Rational IT implemented a standard protocol of regular system support and maintenance.

Improved Focus and Productivity
With key systems under support, Timogen could focus on its core business of building software.

Upgrade Major Systems
Crimson Investments, a Palo Alto, California-based venture capital firm with offices in Boston and Taipei had outgrown its network systems and employee productivity was suffering.

Putting IT at the Operational Center
Crimson had made do for several years with non-standard technologies and ad hoc processes. If it was to empower its high-powered staff, then it had to break with its past and put state-of-the-art technologies in their hands

Windows 2000 and Cisco
Rational IT started by upgrading core Windows systems from NT to Windows 2000, including an upgrade to Exchange 2000. To centralize systems and management, bandwidth to remote sites was increased. For effective management, Cisco technologies were put at the heart of the Crimson network.

With these changes in place, the “icing on the cake” like support for Blackberry devices, became much easier.

With systems upgraded, Crimson selected Rational IT/’s SureResponse IT Managed Services for support and sustaining management.

Crimson then decided to engage with Rational IT for SureView IT Planning Services to align future investments with business strategy and assure a balanced IT portfolio.

Things Work as They Should
High-powered staff have the tools they need. The environment is well-supported for sustained value. The IT future is more secure, with a solid plan and a balanced portfolio of projects.