As application and database systems grow to an enterprise scale they become impossible to manage through a traditional database mapping architecture. A totally new architecture is needed to handle the data assets and the relationships and processes surrounding those assets. A key part of this architecture is adding descriptions of the data assets, applications, and transactions to enable wider and more automated discovery and reuse of data and information. These descriptions are added as metadata, which is data describing data and information entities. It provides additional information on the context, meaning, and intended use of data and therefore provides information that can be used to link disparate sources, personalize information delivery, and enable more sophisticated machine reasoning. Metadata also enables high quality search and information retrieval and knowledge discovery. System architects are given many resources from which to start development. There are a number of standards that have been created by government and industry that can be used for specific purposes. With the number of standards that exist, it is impossible to come up with one that satisfies the needs of a truly intelligent application. Instead of trying to force one standard to fulfill the needs of a complex system, TECHi2 has developed the Integrated Metadata Repository (IMR) architecture that allows organizations to use a combination of standards and custom XML namespaces to develop custom applications and which follows the best practices of the DOD and DDMS. Some of TECHi2’s clients using the IMR include the United States Marine Corps and the Department of the Navy.

The events of September 11, 2001 have highlighted the need to develop better processes and technologies of gathering, analyzing, and integrating information and knowledge from massive sets of diverse data sources and formats to support decision making and time-criical actions. The field of Knowledge Discovery and Dissemination (KDD) is devoted to providing people with usable actionable knowledge across the enterprise without lengthy and laborious effort to search through large amount of irrelevant content. Originally based on datamining, KDD is now able to exploit the new generation of intelligent applications, shared data environments, and distributed architectures for enterprise scale operations. TECHi2 has expertise in all the technical, organizational, and procedural aspects of KDD and has worked with clients as diverse as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), DARPA, and SAIC. For the NGA, TECHi2 has developed a technology options assessment and strategic plan to enable KDD on a global scale, and a metadata architecture to support knowledge enabled operations. This includes collecting open-source and restricted information on technologies and programs to compare to a functional requirements roadmap to create a knowledge map of the KDD field. TECHi2 has defined a modular federated architecture of distributed metadata registries, databases, and information sources coupled with a logical metadata architecture for semantic-enabled knowledge collection, annotation, and dissemination.

Clients demand more from applications than merely pulling information from a database upon request. TECHi2 designs and builds applications that truly participate in the decision processes of an organization. Intelligent applications are built through the development of an intelligent architecture that is matched to the business processes being supported. We develop custom intelligent applications for Services Oriented Architectures, enhance and fuse information at a rate well above the traditional relational database mapping methodology. These Services Oriented architectures are used to maximize interoperability in new applications and databases as well as the ability to access other training systems. Every intelligent application is individually tailored to meet a highly targeted proactive delivery of important lessons learned. Some of the programs we have assisted to develop include Intelligent Applications for individualized portals, intelligent systems design and integration for Task Force Excel, NETC and BUPERS to mention a few.

The phrase Command and Control is often used in a military context. Yet one can find it in business as the alternative to normal line management functions and as the proven management framework necessary for crisis response, threat mitigation and network security structure. At the same time, it is also referred to as the “traditional” methodology when contrasted to a “new” networked management framework. Today’s leader both in business and the military is faced with competing theories that are sometimes confusing and contradictory. We hear of Toffler’s Third Wave and the Information Age, self organization theory and of the consequence of post Newtonian non linear dynamics and unpredictability. Yet the leader is still faced with the same problem and that is to make the organization successful. What is consistent in all of these statements and theories is that organizational command and control has dependencies that are not limited to technology. Organizations are integrated and complicated organisms that must work in harmony to ensure success. TECHi2 has a deep knowledge of this field and applies it to finding its clients solutions and improving their organization through an integrated approach of Structure, Technology and Process. Through this approach, TECHi2 is able to apply correctly the ever changing net centric technologies that provide the value added the customer seeks as well as the flexibility for adaptation to future developments. TECHi2 considers it a core belief that no organization in this new information age will evolve and adapt successfully without this integrated approach. Too often we have seen technology offered as the stand alone solution that often brings with it as many problems as it solves. Command and Control is a complex environment that requires a holistic approach for true improvement and problem solving. TECHi2 brings that cross functional expertise to its clients table and designs and develops long term and flexible solutions.

XML namespaces are used to define a specific scope of a given controlled vocabulary as well as the metadata which provides both meaning and context. The advantage of XML is that it allows disparate systems to exchange data by tagging it in a common yet highly flexible format. Because XML is a self-descriptive protocol, Information Technology professionals can use it to encapsulate, share and reuse information as well as connect and integrate business processes with less effort and on a broader scale than practical using with traditional case-by-case approaches. Another advantage offered by XML includes the ease of protecting sensitive Human Resources Data. XML labels each discrete data component, thereby protecting, identifying and allowing for the storage of confidential data. TECHi2 created a standard HR “vocabulary” for data exchange and system interoperability for use in both internal applications and with alliance partners. The value to the Navy of having its own unique namespace is that it will allow the development of a standard set of XML elements that describe key M&P data. It will also save the Navy personnel time and money when the personal data of all Sailors is entered into the XML database by reducing the cost of updating personnel documents and reducing the time needed to perform adhoc updates. It is anticipated that this “namespace” will be comprised of XML Schema registered with the DON XML registry. The methods and techniques developed through this effort are now being suggested as a prototype for similar efforts for all of the Navy’s Functional Areas. As the developer of the BUPERS XML namespace, TECHi2 is in a unique position to leverage methods, techniques and products to the advantage of future efforts in the Navy and our other clients.

Sharing knowledge and learning from one another is a normal human activity. The popularity of Knowledge Management (KM) is a result of the changing forces driving organizations to improve efficiency and productivity. Organizations must now operate in a climate of rapid market change and high information volume, which increases the need for knowledge instead of disparate information and data. Knowledge differs from information since it conveys the context, timeliness, and relationships among the individual pieces of information and between the information and applications. People can act on knowledge but must still analyze and distill information. Organizations need knowledge of many facets of their business, including: customers, markets, logistics, maintenance, operational procedures, employee benefits, regulations, technology, future trends, and any other topic where high-quality, validated, contextually relevant information impacts decisions and operations. The fast-paced and complex information climate has created the situation where large and distributed organizations cannot rely on informal interactions or lengthy formal classroom training to spread knowledge. Consequently, the field of Knowledge Management has arisen to build a set of methods and tools to capture, organize, and disseminate knowledge. TECHi2 has led KM programs for several clients, including: Department of Navy CIO, Naval Personnel Development Command, US Marine Corps CIO, Lifelines Services Network, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and others. In each case, our products are tailored for each client's specific needs but concentrate on defining key needs and opportunities, and designing and developing effective IT systems and business processes to implement KM methods and achieve business objectives. The critical issue to remember is that effective KM is not supplied by IT alone, nor even well-designed business processes, but only by tightly matched and synergistic combinations of technology, processes, and people. Some of our products include: strategic plans for KM programs; technology options analyses for KM systems; intelligent applications to capture and disseminate critical organizational knowledge; and KM taxonomies and metadata architectures. For a sample of TECHi2 presentations see this web site's home page; for a sample of products contact us.