Information resource management in the DCSPLANS branch of the U.S. Army Military Personel Center

Abstract

DCSPLANS currently suffers from data integrity problems which compromise the validity of the manpower models which they maintain. These problems arise from having to use data maintained by various external agencies as well as a lack of corporate history due to frequent military personnel turnover. This report examines the alternate of information resource management (IRM) as a solution to these problems. IRM is considered from the organizational and technological perspectives. Organizationally, the role of DCSPLANS within U.S. Army MilPerCen is identified and implementation of a civilian billet for data administration recommended as a first step towards controlling data resources. Technologically, a relational dictionary system is designed to support this data administrator. The dictionary is compatible with emerging Federal Standards. Examples of how the dictionary can be used within DCSPLANS are presented. Finally, structured modeling is introduced as an integrative modeling discipline which coordinates data and modeling resources via the IRM function