Elements of Systems Modernization for the Social Security Administration (1991) / Chapter Skim
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6. Managing the Technology
6. Managing the Technology
Pages 57-68
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From page 57... ...
The committee also recommends that the SSA's computer operations evolve so that current secondgeneration systems are phased out by the year 2000. Successful systems transition involves careful planning of target systems, resource allocations, and strategies for innovative transition consistent with a coherent overall vision of the agency's future.
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From page 58... ...
A1SO7 mainframe equipment does not support interaction on terminals as well and is not where new software developments involving decision support tools are making the greatest strides. Since it is more economical to buy processing power in small computers, this approach, along with being technically adequate, should offer a long-term cost advantage for both acquisitions and maintenance over a mainframe-based architecture.
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From page 59... ...
Hence the rolldown strategy should really be regarded as an interim tactic whose cost is justifiable only over the near term, about 3 years, at which time a longer-term architecture for the PSCs needs to be ready to put in place. Unfornazately, Lurches mainframe computers from the NCC ace not a good choice for reuse at the PSC~ The committee cautions the SSA not to rely on these PSC-based mainframes to support NCC backup and recovery or any of the other programmatic functions currently performed at the NCC.
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From page 60... ...
Although the committee favors seeing SSI benefit from modernized automation, such a major focus on a new area should not divert attention from the fact that much of the essential Title II automation has not yet been completed. In particular, the ability to
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From page 61... ...
Starting with a business model that depicts how the SSA wants to do business and a subsequent data model, SSA must document at a detailed level what information its computer applications must provide, rather than specifying how those applications are to be structured or developed. The base set of advanced application specifications should cover all the programmatic services mandated for the SSA as well as administrative applications necessary to efficiently and accurately carry out the legislated mandates.
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From page 62... ...
Since the trend will be to distribute some processing to the- local offices, regional processing offices, teleprocessing centers, as well as the National Computer Center, which itself may become bicentralized, these estimates also provide a basis for deciding how to partition the system. Certain client interface tasks are appropriately done in field offices, and others involving the resolution of problems requiring state government interactions can be regionalized, but tasks that require consistency can be achieved best through centralization.
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From page 63... ...
Such a group would have to set milestones for its work and set specific goals for itself, including: documenting all information needs of existing automated Title II applications; documenting all information needs of applications involving disability evaluation without recourse to periodic medical reevaluations; and documenting all requirements for nonfederal information specifically, state certifications of birth, health, and death.
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From page 64... ...
Retrieval and addition of information to individual client records may be provided through personal "smart card" devices. However, the ability of people to carry with them their own copy of SSA information on smart cards or other media implies the need for special stations for the updating and validating of the cards by the SSA or other information providers such as medical practitioners and hospitals.
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From page 65... ...
Movement toward more sophisticated distributed processing and distributed database management implies reuse and possible redundancy of software, and this requires better configuration management and careful consideration of the need for consisteru~y of data across network nodes. Therefore, the SSA must determine how long data can be out of synchronization at a node.
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From page 66... ...
Using this technology will require a great deal of resource for initial input of source images. The addition of voice input devices with the output of audio responses and language translation for SSA's clerical support staff, methods of controlling SSA's processing flow, and the use of expert systems for explanation of problems and special cases will add to the load and require sophisticated interfacing.
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From page 67... ...
If smart cards come into use for storing client information, technological and other safeguards will have to be applied to protect against unauthorized access to and modification of client data. Maintaining operations under emergency conditions such as earthquakes, fires, and other civil disasters will become a more important consideration as automation increases, because the loss of access would be more obvious and a greater threat to the integrity of more highly automated SSA systems and data records.
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From page 68... ...
1990. Systems Modemization and the Strategic Plans of the Social Security Administration.
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