DMS system design overview video

You can bypass this intro and go right to the video at the bottom of this page

DMS system design video introduction

○○ The complexity of modern 'systems' ○○ 

Before introducing our 'system' overview video, I thought I would do a quick google search of the word 'system'

System (noun):  Google search

1. a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network.

2. a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized framework or method.

While this definition is Ok, it doesn't really explain complex modern systems to me.

Modern systems have a lot of success factors like:

• Adaptability and upgradability to keep up with an ever-changing world.

• Suitability to a wide range of businesses cases and business-specific processes.

• Usability by a wide range of users and experience levels

• Accessibility across a wide range of systems, devices and methods

• Capability to automate workflows and processes based on complex conditions.

• Data accessibility for operational decisions and business intelligence.

• Integration with a wide array of external technologies and systems

• Security, performance, and scalability

• Cost efficiency and maintainability

I could go on, but modern systems are far from a 'mechanism, network, framework or method'. Let's see if I can find a better definition of 'system'.

Searching again, I find Wikipedia has a better definition.

System (noun): Wikipedia

A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. [1] A system, surrounded and influenced by its environment, is described by its boundaries, structure and purpose and is expressed in its functioning.  Systems are the subjects of study of systems theory and other systems sciences.  Systems have several common properties and characteristics, including structure, function(s), behavior and interconnectivity.

This definition is harder to unpack but feels a lot more accurate. Modern enterprise systems are increasingly complex and this complexity simply cannot be ignored.

○○ The all-too-common outcome of modern transformation projects ○○ 

If you've been part of a transformation project that includes significant process changes and new technology systems, there's a good chance it went something like this:

1. The project starts with a focus on exciting goals and possibilities.

2. When you get into the work, defining the processes and systems that will achieve these goals is harder than initially thought, so they are scaled back.

3. With each project implementation, less gets delivering than expected, later than expected and higher cost than expected. Budgets and timelines become strained.

4. The implemented 'solutions' themselves create new unexpected problems that have to be added to project work. This creates a new source of unexpected scope.

5. The focus on exciting goals and possibilities is replaced by managing expectations and just doing 'what you can' with the budget and time remaining.

This is unfortunately quite common. If this didn't happen on your complex project, regardless of how hard it was to achieve and the scars everyone bares, stop and give yourself and your teams a pat on the back. You deserve it.

○○ The importance of deep understanding and intentional design ○○ 

Innovation projects will provide a lot of reasons for not achieving their goals, but few mention the fundamental root cause, unresolved system complexity.

In my 30 years of doing this, I know of only one way to overcome real complexity - with deep understanding and highly intentional design that fully addresses the complexity. 

This design is so fundamental, that I created our 'lead by design' framework.

From the day we started, it took 7 years to arrive at the completed open-source DMS. The process started with deep sector evaluation, which led to highly intentional initial and ongoing solution designs, which fed clean defined cycles of systems development and organizational implementation, which repeated until all of the hard work was done.  

Did we achieve a different outcome than typical transformation projects?

We let the results speak for themselves. The DMS helped our first mover client achieve some of the lowest costs per resolution the entire sector, completely transformed their business, exceeded all of their stated project goals, was delivered on time and budget, and left them with a powerful platform for the future.

Unlike traditional systems, the DMS is also free (open source), so the annual savings in licensing allows this first mover client to continually improve and extend the DMS with the same budget as a licensed system that doesn't have any regular improvements.

The following video was created to help you understand the DMS design. It describes the new opportunities this free open-source platform could provide to your organization and the people you serve, and how it could be a powerful platform for a better future.

DMS design overview video

Feel free to contact us for more information about the DMS or our deep analysis and highly intentional design services.

Mike Harlow

Solution Architect

Hive One Justice Systems, Hive One Collaborative Systems

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