ZIMS PROJECT Q&A
1 What is the ZIMS Project?
2 What is the role of ISIS in the ZIMS Project?
3 What is the role of IADISC in the ZIMS Project?
4 Who is CGI and how are they involved?
5 How can one can get involved in the ZIMS Project?
6 How are participants selected for the JAD sessions?
7 How do the workshops feed into the process
8 What is the timeframe for completion of this project?
9 Where are we currently with the Project?
10 Will ZIMS replace existing ISIS software?
11 How is ZIMS being funded?
12  What will be going on with ZIMS over the next few months?
13 How will the ZIMS system differ from what we currently have in place?
14  I understand the scope of the program, but help me understand why development will cost so much.
15 Will ZIMS include other modules such as Nutrition?
16 How will the operating costs of ZIMS be financed?
17 Has there been a cost/benefit analysis of ZIMS? What value does ZIMS provide over existing systems?
18 Have you thought of a test plan?

1.  What is the ZIMS Project?

ZIMS stands for Zoological Information Management System. The ZIMS product will be truly revolutionary for the zoo and aquarium profession. The project goes beyond the initial vision of a central repository of zoological data to a system that supports the information needs of the many diverse animal care and management activities of our zoological institutions.

Phase I of the Project began in July, 2001 and was completed January, 2002. Deliverables from this phase included Project Mission and Charter , Conceptual Data Model, Technology Assessment, Work Processes Document and initial Project Plan.

Phase II of the Project began in April, 2002. This phase produced an RFP (Request for Proposals) for the design and development of the system.  

In 2003 ISIS took on the project, hired a full-time Project Manager, and the RFP was released.  ISIS also undertook significant restructuring efforts and the capital campaign  to support the ZIMS Project.

In 2004, ISIS contracted with software vendor, CGI, to design and develop the first release of ZIMS with core and veterinary modules.

For more information about the four major campaigns which make up the ZIMS Project visit http://www.isis.org/zims/ZimsMain.asp.

2. What is the role of ISIS in the ZIMS Project?

ISIS took on management of the ZIMS Project in 2003 and hired a full-time Project Manager and Chief Technology Officer, Syed Hassan. In early 2004, ISIS hired software vendor, CGI, for design and development of ZIMS.  

3. What is the role of IADISC in the ZIMS Project?

IADISC is the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee. Members include representatives from regional zoological and aquarium associations around the world. The mission of IADISC is to serve as a global forum and mechanism for the user community’s involvement necessary to move forward with the planning, design, development, and deployment of ZIMS.  IADISC is actively identifying and engaging Subject Matter Experts in the design of ZIMS. For more information on IADISC visit www.iadisc.org .

4. Who is CGI and how are they involved?

CGI is a Global Information Technology and Business Process Services firm, with over 25,000 professionals and 3500+ clients worldwide.  They were selected, through a rigorous competitive process, to design and build ZIMS. CGI information technology specialists will facilitate the JAD sessions.

5. How can one can get involved in the ZIMS Project?

There are many ways to get involved!  The design of the system and the development of data standards will require input from many Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Visit both the ISIS web site www.isis.org and the IADISC web site www.iadisc.org to learn more. To specifically get involved in the electronic discussions of standards contact the listserve moderators (see http://www.iadisc.org/SMEData.htm )

6. How are participants selected for JAD sessions?

Throughout the design and development of the ZIMS, the need for Subject Matter Experts’ (SMEs’) time and commitment will be significant. Participation in ZIMS Project workshops is one way in which SME’s will be asked to provide their knowledge of business processes and data requirements.  To ensure that these sessions are focused and productive while representing the broadest spectrum of business knowledge and expertise, IADISC and the regional ADISC’s, have developed the following guidelines for workshop participant selection and will assist the ZIMS Team by providing a list of individuals that meet these criteria for specific workshops.

In general, the following criteria is used to select participants for ZIMS Project standards and design workshops: 
  1. Expertise that complements the subject area.
  2. Representative split between zoos and aquariums.
  3. Balanced taxonomic representation.
  4. Balanced geographic and regional representation.
  5. Institutional decision makers, content developers who are end-users, or both in the particular area of the workshop’s focus.
  6. Representation from a variety of different sized institutions.
  7. A balanced representation between participants that have experience in prior workshops with new participants to increase awareness.

7. How do the workshops feed into the process?

The workshops are an important part of the process in providing interactive forums for the system designers to understand and document the business requirements from a diverse group of subject matter experts (SMEs).  There are 2 kinds of workshops, JAD (Joint Application Design) sessions and standards workshops.  The 5 JAD sessions are intense 4 day workshops that result in technical documentation describing the system requirements.  A series of 12 or more standards workshops will be held starting in late 2004 in which subject matter experts will focus on the development of standards that will be required for the implementation of ZIMS. 

8. What is the timeframe for completion of this project?

It is projected that the first release of ZIMS will be deployed in mid 2006.

9. Where are we currently with the Project?

We are in the inception phase of design. A series of 5 workshops called JAD sessions (Joint Application Design) will be held between July and November of 2004 around the world.  In parallel to these workshops, there is much work going on by the ZIMS team, CGI, and IADISC collaborating by various means such as electronic discussions, meetings, and  global teleconferences, to gather the data necessary to design the system and develop standards.

10. Will ZIMS replace existing ISIS software?

Yes, the first release of ZIMS will replace ARKS, MedARKS and SPARKS.

11. How will the ZIMS system differ from what we currently have in place? 

The ZIMS product will be truly revolutionary for the zoo and aquarium profession. The project goes beyond the initial vision of a central repository of zoological data to a system that supports the information needs of the many diverse animal care and management activities of our zoological institutions.

The main architectural components of ZIMS include:

  • Transaction processing capability to support zoological related functions and processes.
  • An operational database to capture and maintain transactional data.
  • An integrated central data warehouse to capture information across institutions and support analysis and information delivery.

12. How is ZIMS being funded?

ISIS is seeking initial investments from members of the global zoo and aquarium community, who have already provided over 3 million in "start-up capital." ISIS is also seeking major support from government bodies, corporations, foundations, and individuals around the world. For more information on the ZIMS Capital campaign visit www.isis.org .

13. I understand the scope of the program, but help me understand why development will cost so much.

ZIMS is a sophisticated and complex development initiative. The current plan is to develop a commercial quality product that supports diverse activities for a wide variety of zoological institutions and other stakeholders. The ZIMS budget will need to be robust enough to result in a software product of appropriate scope and functionality.

14. Will ZIMS include other modules such as Nutrition?

The first release of ZIMS includes core (inventory) and veterinary functionality plus a data warehouse.  The full nutrition module will be included in future releases of ZIMS although some basic elements are included in the veterinary module.

15. Are existing animal database systems, both current ISIS software and institutional applications, being examined by the developers of ZIMS?

Yes, the ZIMS Project Team is utilizing existing knowledge of animal systems and specifically analyzing existing technical systems design documentation.  The ZIMS Project Team is interested in acquiring any additional information about other existing animal database applications.  

16. Has there been a cost/benefit analysis of ZIMS? What value does ZIMS provide over existing systems?

Several business case statements have been developed to explain the benefit of ZIMS but there is still more work to be done.  One example of a cost savings is the decreased need for duplicate data entry by studbook keepers who will utilize the central database rather than create studbooks from scratch. It is roughly estimated that this could save $1M/year in labour savings across the user institutions.  This most likely will not result in reduced staff levels, but instead increase productivity and capacity, in the same way that modern office information tools, accounting systems, and membership management systems do. The benefits of higher data quality and better access to data are difficult to quantify though are recognized as being significant to our community activities

17. How will the operating costs of ZIMS be financed?

ISIS’s plans to expand capacity to support ZIMS in the future.  The ISIS Board is addressing the need for funding.

18. Have you thought of a test plan?

Yes, the details of the plan will not be established until after the vendor is on board and the project schedule is better defined. A test plan is very important and the users must be involved in both the development of the plan and the testing. IADISC will support ISIS in implementing a test plan and suggest suitable user testers.