Index

The Status of KINITI's Information Systems Consulting Services

CHOI Hyun-kyoo

Senior Researcher

Korean INstitute of Industry & Technology Information (KINITI)

1 Enterprises' Informatization in Korea & KINITI's correspondence
2 Current Situation on Major Activities
2.1 Development and Production of Information Retrieval S/W
2.2 Database Establishment & Production
2.3 Users Training & Post Management
3 KINITI's Plan for Development of Information System Consulting Services

　

1 Enterprises' Informatization in Korea & KINITI's correspondence

Individuals as well as organizations who efficiently compile and make the most of information could survive in this society. More and more business activities depend on Information and gain an advantage by appropriate and quick searching of needed information. Therefore information is the key point to enhancing the competitiveness where enterprises have a goal.

Enterprises in Korea has equipped with information systems as infrastructure for information collection & utilization for the purpose of survival under competitive environment. Informatization was launched and promoted from conglomerates to small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and currently, most Korean firms are using such an information system while the remainder have a plan to construct it.

KINITI (Korean INstitute of Industry & Technology Information), as a leading organization for industry and technology information, has been mandated to play a crucial role in establishing a nation-wide information dissemination system in Korea. Dept. for Information Systems Consulting Services was set in KINITI to support companies and institutes who designed the information system for internal information management. Main activities of this dept. are to construct the information management system, that is, building database of in-house document materials, and to provide related consulting services, though the dept. is carrying out various activities concerning construction and utilization of the information system including MIS. Considering that KINITI's characteristics, most users are from manufacturing companies and R&D centers. In this regard, this dept. has executed a role on establishing the information systems by using TIMS (Technology Information Management that support technology R&D. Also, there is no specific limitations so that any private and public organizations who would like to build, retrieve and use the information system of document materials could be the users. Therefore, I would like to present on Information Systems Consulting Services focusing on TIMS.

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2 Current Situation on Major Activities

Building the internal Information Management System needed by various kind of organizations has caused bottle-neck in the following cases. One is the lack of understanding about informatization which can not directly yield profit that enterprises put the first consideration. The other is that lack of human resources and budget required by database establishment as well as operation raise a problem.

In this connection, KINITI has been consulting training programs for the public, which leads to diversion of understanding on information systems, and establishment and operation for information system on a small scale.

Even desire towards informatization of firms has been increasing, private service organizations which are equipment with inferior infrastructure cannot meet the requirements because they only laid emphasis on S/W development which resulted in a fall in the application. It was the key factor that disturbed practical use of informatization.

That was the point aimed at development of TIMS package that includes know-how initiation and standardization techniques required by constructing the database of document materials as well as establishing and operating the information system for S/W development. TIMS package consists of three cardinal points, providing S/W, database construction and users training & ex post facto management.

　

2.1 Development and Production of Information Retrieval S/W

Information retrieval software used by TIMS is based on micro CDS/ISIS, non-numeric information storage and retrieval software package developed by UNESCO/PGI. In 1991, KINITI developed DOS version of TIMS in the first place by technical assistance of UNESCO. Hangul (Korean language), 2 byte letter, can be used in the version that overcome language limit whereas only English can be used in the former version distributed to developing nations.

The current market, 115 companies using the system, had its beginning in the development of Hangul version. According to the classification into type of users, 45 % of SMEs, 41% of conglomerates, 10% of public organizations and 5% of institutes and universities has established in-house database by using the above system. Also, 18 % of users are operating it under network environment and 15 % of users are linked with document image processing system.

The essential features of the information retrieval S/W is as follows;

　
TIMS, the DOS version developed into Windows version for enhancing the users' convenience in 1996 focusing on retrieval function. The window version that kept linkage with functions in DOS version embodied RTF (Rich Text Formats) that diversified color, size type of font in output. In addition, hyperlink function was supplied.

In an early stage, TIMS was used by stand-alone for PC, however it can be currently assisted under LAN (Local Area Networks). Furthermore, it is used under WAN (Wide Area Networks) called TIMS-net due to the development of telecommunication environment.

It is obvious changes that the system is connected with document image processing technology called optical file. Document Image Processing function and TIMS that has superiority to retrieval function of text data are grafted together. It has brought forth PC type model of digital library where users could search information and refer to the original text.

KINITI has a plan for joint study as follows; Firstly, concerning system development of TIMS KINITI is going to develop search engine for CD-ROM title. Secondly, we will commence on study for WWW interface and DLL (Dynamic Linking Library). Lastly, we are considering to study Japanese-Korean translation system to solve language limit. Especially, we are interested in information system development of nations using 2 byte letters such as Korea, Japan and China. All activities mentioned above will be executed in cooperation with specialists from domestic as well as overseas.

2.2 Database Establishment & Production

KINITI has instructed and supported techniques required by constructing database of in-house document materials. The training course includes the order of database selection for establishment, the way of an individual database design, the way of input data and database maintenance & management.

External information can be conversed and established as internal database in each firm by using TIMS. In addition, they could select specialized information to make their own database from BIST (Bibliographic Information of Science and Technology) and Industry Intellectual Properties Database (e.g. KPTN, KUPA) produced by KINITI. SDI (Selective Dissemination Information Service) is also provided and data exchange, exporting & importing, is based on ISO 2709 formats. The order of retrieval materials for database production is technical report, research report, patent materials, books, newspapers, periodicals and business trip report, which shows high frequency in retrieval.

2.3 Users Training & Post Management

Users training is the basic way to enhance its application. It provides trainees with intense course called OJT (Office Job Training) in order to squiring full knowledge of techniques. The course consists of 5 days and 2 steps which gives information specialists sound understanding. Free post management done by KINITI continuously is the key activity to give satisfaction to the users.

KINITI helps information exchanges by formation user group and make improvements of S/W according to the users' requirements. KINITI has been offering technical support and consulting services for efficient database design and system or data error through visit and telephone polling service and also has been operating remote control system for diagnostic & trouble shooting of information system.

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3 KINITI's Plan for Development of Information System Consulting Services

KINITI's Information System Consulting Services focusing on TIMS package steadily developed through accumulated experiences. The important factors of success in technology information management are divided into three parts. One is the fixations of 3C (collection, choice, construction) activities to facilitate the circulation of in-house information. The other is the system application training for users and training including fostering qualifications and system operating management for specialists. Another is the post management and supporting for the system. Furthermore, KINITI will execute various kinds of training programs like holding seminars to meet with the above key factors.

Development of advanced information system is keenly requested to cope with the changes of information technology and the needs of users. As a correspondence to the changes, KINITI is seeking promotion of users' connection and transitions of recognition to multimedia. Also, international cooperation are urgently necessary because international information exchange has been expanded.

As it has already mentioned, KINITI has deep interests in joint study and development for accumulation of document materials and its retrieval techniques of Korean, Japanese, Chinese. Those languages shows similarity in information processing, therefore we would like to prepare and study on information systems-our common interests. Participation from public organizations in Japan is greatly welcomed. It is believed that KINITI's information system can be the device that meet the users' requirements, leading companies stand on low level.

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