FASS Newsletter
(by Geoff Chao, UNOPS APIF Logistics, Kabul, Afghanistan)
As fellow FASS users you should be aware that FASS in all its incarnations is about to go thru a period of significant change that will affect you.
Responsibility for operational management has been passed to UNOPS OSU in Dubai. As a result a team has been set up to take care of managing requests for support, requests for changes, bug notification, file updates, training and cost recovery.
At present a website is being developed which will feature a repository for the latest files and amendments and a bulletin board which will become the primary tool for all aspects of FASS support. Forums will be available for each module of FASS, a wish list for review and possible inclusion in upgrades and a bug reporting centre. This should be functional within the immediate future and expert help will be available as soon as this is in place. Note that from the near future ALL requests for support will need to be made thru the UNOPS FASS support team via the online tools discussed.
Currently there are three variants of FASS and a priority is being given to integrate these into one unified version capable of supporting all programmes needs.
A bridging layer is under development by New York to expose interfaces to ATLAS and analyses are being conducted to define the inputs and outputs required to allow FASS to integrate seamlessly with its big brother. Long term the vision is that this will make authorisation from New York a routine automated exercise rather than the manual effort currently required.
APIF is taking the lead and pushing hard to have a fully operational version of FASS working across all departments. To date several significant changes are required within the Logistics module and a new module will be introduced for public access where all UNOPS forms may be accessed and preliminary processing begun. We expect other changes will be needed within the HR and procurement modules.
A roving team of specialists is being formed who will be available to visit the various programmes without cutting through red tape, and at short notice, to train staff and deal with technical issues. Online forms will be available for requesting this type of assistance. Medium term expect to see courses being offered for module continuation training in Dubai. A comprehensive and user friendly manual is also slated for delivery around the end of the year, this will be complimentary to and more detailed than the current online help included in the system.
Due to the considerable costs involved in further development and support it will be necessary to work on a cost recovery basis. This will be done as fairly as possible, amendment costs will be divided amongst all programmes on a prorated basis weighted toward the larger established ones and support requests will be on a standard time based rate. This has yet to be formalised however funding must come from somewhere so expect a procedure for this soon.
For the time being thats it from us. When the site is live you will all be given accounts and we look forward to your views and feedback. Meanwhile feel free to ask questions of myself or jarwid on any of the preceding.
